An embattled Nigel Farage is fighting for his political survival as a major donations scandal completely overshadowed what Reform UK hoped would be a major comeback speech at its party conference in Birmingham.
Allegations that the party arranged illegal donations led to the resignation on Friday of Mr Farage’s chief of staff and longtime aide Dan Jukes, as well as policy director James Orr.
With the conference framed around Reform’s plans for its “first 100 days” in government, the discussion was knocked off-course as Mr Farage was instead forced to answer questions on whether he could bounce back from another scandal.
But in his speech on the main stage – delayed by more than an hour by security concerns – Mr Farage vowed not to be “distracted” by “a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks”.
Interrupted four times by protesters, the Reform leader hit back at “far left activists” for targeting party figures, saying the sting operation that led to the resignation of two senior aides was an “exercise in entrapment”.
Metropolitan Police confirmed they are considering complaints from Labour and the Lib Dems over video footage obtained by investigative group Verbatim posing as an American financier and his UK-based son, who reportedly suggested they would be prepared to donate up to £500,000 to the party.
open image in galleryThe party took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year costing £32,500, Channel 4 News reported.
It meant that an attempt by Mr Farage to put his party on the front foot over the small board crisis by signing a memorandum with France’s right-wing National Rally party president Jordan Bardella was lost in him answering questions on the allegations.
It also overshadowed the speech in which he outlined how he would declare a state of emergency if he became prime minister and force the Commons to sit seven days week over the summer to push through legislation.
The conference was much expanded from the one at the same venue last year with more stalls from businesses and other organisations, a larger press pack and fringe meetings.
But in contrast to last year when optimistic party members cheered poll ratings of about 30 per cent, delegates were glum this year with the party under siege. Polls put Reform on 23 per cent this week, although one put them behind the Tories.
open image in galleryMore in Common pollster Luke Tryl warned delegates at a fringe meeting that while “Reform considerers” could boost their vote share to as much as 40 percent, the party needed at least 30 per cent to form the next government – but has seen the support on the right “fracture” with the emergence of rival Restore Britain.
Earlier, Mr Farage had been forced to accept the resignations of Mr Jukes and Mr Orr who had been caught in the video apparently accepting an illegal foreign donation during the Clacton by-election in July – but he dismissed the allegations as “loose pub talk.”
Mr Farage insisted he and his aides “had done nothing illegal” and that no money changed hands. “I don’t like it at all. I’ve worked with Dan [Jukes] very closely for many years, many, many years, and I described it as loose pub talk, and that’s what it was, because what he said simply wasn’t true”, he said.
The Reform leader, who is already under investigation by the Standards Commissioner over an undeclared £5 million donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, claimed the allegations broadcast by Channel 4 have been made because “they’re scared of us”.
“Reform has broken no law. We take compliance extremely seriously. And ask yourself, why is all of this happening? Anyone got a clue why it’s happening? Because they’re scared of us. That’s why it’s happening”, he said.
“And in my case, I’ve broken no laws, abused no public money. I haven’t even got a motorhome, believe you me.
“I’m accused of non-declaration of a personal gift, a personal gift that might just keep me alive.”
There was also speculation ahead of the conference and in Birmingham that he may quit if the ongoing Commons inquiry leads triggers a second by-election in Clacton.
open image in galleryHowever, a key ally of Mr Farage has denied that “he is close to throwing in the towel” amid growing speculation that the latest scandal for Reform UK has taken him to the brink.
Aaron Banks, the businessman who backed Mr Farage’s Brexit campaign, told The Sun he thought Mr Farage would stay.
But Mr Banks, who hopes to run for Reform in Keir Starmer’s former seat, warned that the party needs major internal changes.
Another support told The Independent: “People here don’t care about the Channel 4 thing. They are shrugging their shoulders.”
However, another said: “I am not sure if Nigel sticks this out. He is tired and angry. If we slip in the polls I think he could go to America.”