Two senior Reform UK aides, head of policy James Orr and leadership assistant Dan Jukes, have stepped down pending an investigation after a Channel 4 News sting alleged the party engaged in illegal foreign donation activity. The row broke on the opening day of Reform's annual conference in Birmingham, overshadowing Nigel Farage's attempts to reset the party's fortunes amid slipping poll numbers, and has prompted rival parties to report the allegations to the police and the Electoral Commission.

Undercover reporters from investigative group Verbatim posed as an American financier and his UK-based son, and secretly filmed Farage and Jukes discussing a proposed £500,000 donation, which is banned under UK law and was never actually paid. Channel 4 also alleged Reform received £32,500 in polling work funded by a US firm. Reform chairman Lee Anderson said there was "no chance" of the pair returning, while deputy leader Richard Tice insisted no money or benefit in kind was received and no rules were broken, citing a KC's legal opinion. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have all called for scrutiny, with Labour chair Bridget Phillipson saying the scandal "goes right to the top of Reform".