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Senior aides to British Trump ally Nigel Farage step down after foreign funding sting
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- Two senior aides to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage resigned following an undercover investigation alleging the party arranged for a foreign donor to pay for political polling, potentially breaching UK laws banning foreign donations.
- Reform UK denied wrongdoing, claiming the party was targeted by a hoax from climate activists posing as donors, and announced an internal investigation into the matter.
- The Labour Party has called for a police investigation into possible criminal offences, including attempts to channel overseas donations through UK intermediaries, citing evidence from a Channel 4 broadcast.
- Farage, under parliamentary investigation for previous donations, maintained that no illegal donations were accepted and described the aides as having been "entrapped" during the undercover operation.
- The Metropolitan Police and Electoral Commission are reviewing the allegations, with the police assessing information but not yet launching a formal investigation, and the Electoral Commission emphasizing parties' responsibility for donor vetting.
