Quick answer: Nigel Farage said he “frankly wasn't listening” during an undercover conversation about an apparent scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK. Former chief of staff Dan Jukes and former policy head James Orr were removed from their jobs after an investigation recorded donor and polling-payment discussions.
Nigel Farage has said he “frankly wasn’t listening” during a conversation at the centre of the Reform UK donor investigation. The discussion involved his former chief of staff and an undercover reporter, and concerned what appeared to be a scheme to funnel foreign money to the party.
Farage gave that response in an interview after an undercover investigation recorded discussions about getting money to Reform UK from an American donor. Two senior staff members have since been removed from their jobs.
What the undercover investigation recorded
The staff members were Dan Jukes, Farage’s former chief of staff, and James Orr, the party’s former head of policy. The investigation recorded them talking about how to get money from an American donor to the party and asking a fake company to pay for polling.
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Jukes was also involved in the conversation with Farage and the undercover reporter. Farage’s explanation focused on whether he was paying attention to that discussion: he said he “frankly wasn’t listening”.
How the former staff members have responded
Jukes has denied doing anything wrong. Orr has said he will co-operate fully with Reform’s internal investigation.
Their removal from their roles is a confirmed consequence of the undercover investigation, while the proposed route for foreign money remains an apparent scheme described in the recorded discussions. Reform’s internal investigation is the process Orr has committed to assisting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Nigel Farage say about the undercover donor conversation?
Nigel Farage said he “frankly wasn't listening” during a conversation involving his former chief of staff and an undercover reporter. The discussion concerned an apparent scheme to funnel foreign money to Reform UK.
Who lost their jobs after the Reform UK donor investigation?
Dan Jukes, Farage’s former chief of staff, and James Orr, Reform UK’s former head of policy, were removed from their roles. The investigation recorded discussions about getting money to the party from an American donor and asking a fake company to pay for polling.
How have Dan Jukes and James Orr responded?
Dan Jukes has denied doing anything wrong. James Orr has said he will co-operate fully with Reform’s internal investigation.
