The Metropolitan Police has opened a criminal investigation into allegations that Reform UK sought to arrange illegal foreign donations, after undercover footage broadcast by Channel 4 and investigative group Verbatim appeared to show senior party figures discussing how to disguise money from overseas sources. The claims overshadowed Reform's Birmingham conference and prompted the resignation of Nigel Farage's chief of staff Dan Jukes and policy director Dr James Orr, though Farage insists the party has "broken no laws" and taken no "dodgy money".

The undercover operation used reporters posing as a wealthy American financier and his UK-based son, who discussed a potential £500,000 donation with Jukes outside a Westminster pub. Jukes was recorded appearing to suggest the money could be donated in the son's name to get around rules barring foreign funding, remarking "that's one of the ways in which we do it". Further footage reportedly filmed at a lunch in Farage's Clacton constituency showed the pair meeting Farage and Orr directly. Rival parties reported Reform to police, and the Met has confirmed there are "potential offences requiring investigation".