Nigel Farage has told LBC that Reform has done "nothing wrong" after two party officials were caught accepting foreign donations in an undercover sting.
Speaking to LBC, the Reform UK leader desperately sought to deny wrongdoing as he insisted everything was "above board".
He insisted there was "nothing illegal" about his officials accepting overseas donations for three polls it commissioned earlier this year - despite rival parties have reported Reform to the police over the claims.
"The party has broken no laws. The party has not taken any dodgy money or anything like that", he told Nick Ferrari at Breakfast.
Senior aide to Farage Dan Jukes and Reform's Head of Policy, James Orr both left their roles over the sting aired on a Channel 4 documentary last night.
Farage said: "This is a massive sting operation. It must have cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds, all foreign funded, by the way.
"We talk about foreign money interfering in British politics. Well, that's exactly what this was in every way. And they worked at it and worked at it. And they managed to get a couple of our contractors to say things that look, on the face of it, injudicious."
He insisted the pair had to be go because they pair became "entrapped", adding that these conversations "don't look good".
"Attempts to stitch people up and sting people goes on the whole time. But we will not be distracted by it." he told Nick.
Mr Jukes was filmed meeting a man posing as the British-based son of a rich American businessman in an undercover report by Channel 4. Mr Orr was also filmed meeting an undercover reporter to discuss party funding.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
What faith can we have in those polls, though
0:02
I know you mentioned the Mail on Sunday, but the ones in the Times and the Telegraph were as bent as a banana
0:08
Well, you can do what you want with polls, you know? And polls go up and polls go down
0:12
and there's a 3% margin of error. Your reaction to the Channel 4 news piece filed yesterday
0:16
The party has broken no laws. The party has not taken any dodgy money
0:20
or anything like that whatsoever. However, it is a clear case of entrapment
0:25
and they worked at it for a very, very long time, and they got a couple of our contractors to say things
0:32
that perhaps should not have been said. And as a result of that, you know, they had been removed this morning
0:39
and, yeah, you know, I'm not happy about it. But, Mr Farage, at the lunch that you had or meal you had in Clacton-on-Sea
0:47
when told about the polling that had been paid for by an overseas source
0:50
you talked about how it was amazing and how it worked, comma, boom
0:54
I was thrilled to be able to pick up the tab for the polls
0:58
that you had commissioned. That was great. And the third poll. It worked. Boom
1:03
You were aware of it, Mr Farage. Yes, I was aware of it subsequently, yes
1:07
I was told about it. And it had nothing to do with the party at all. An independent third party commissioned a poll
1:12
with a member of the British Polling Council. That poll was put out in the public domain
1:17
And whilst it was helpful, the poll itself was helpful to reform, we had nothing to do with it
1:22
And there's nothing illegal in that whatsoever. But it was funded by a supposed overseas source
1:30
The whole documentary was funded by overseas sources. If we may come to the Reform UK involvement
1:35
you will be aware that it is impermissible under electoral law to receive funds
1:40
Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick. Reform UK did not commission the poll. An independent corporate entity commissioned the poll
1:46
But it was funded, Mr Farage, it was funded by a supposed overseas rich donor
1:54
Well, number one, it had nothing to do with the party whatsoever. And number two, polling can be paid for by anybody
2:01
provided it's put into the public domain. But this wasn't put into the public domain
2:06
And then when it was a set to you at the meal in Clacton, you said, thank you, thank you
2:11
when it appeared that more money was coming your way, again from an overseas source, Mr Farage
2:16
No, no, no, no. The polling is, there's no question of illegality over the polling whatsoever
2:23
right? None. I've got strong KC's opinion on that and there's plenty
2:27
of precedent to. Nothing whilst the poll benefited reform it wasn't commissioned by reform
2:32
it had nothing to do with reform it was an independent third party that did it
2:37
so that's nothing that's nothing. You say that Mr Fry but it was funded by
2:42
via an overseas financial donor Polls are funded by overseas people every single week Every single week of the year Did you know that it was being funded by an overseas financial aid I had absolutely no idea
2:57
The first thing I saw was it on the front page of the Times. They then told me at lunch that they'd funded it
3:02
I said, well done, great, boom. So if it's not wrong, why have these two people stood down
3:09
Because that is not the issue. The issue is when they talked about putting money in that might come originally from America
3:19
That's the reason why. That's the reason why. And that clearly can't be done under electoral law
3:24
Now, it didn't happen. It didn't happen. So no laws have been broken
3:29
And yes, they were entrapped into saying what they said. But we're going to investigate it
3:33
But on the face of it, they said things that shouldn't have been said. But when they talked about giving them more money to Reform UK
3:40
and you knew the man who was an actor now, we know, was from the United States
3:44
why would you say thank you, thank you, thank you? Well, if you listen to what I said
3:48
is this all above board? Is this all legal? I've been told it was a global family office based in London
3:56
And by the way, I was in the middle of a Clacton by-election. I turned up to see people
4:00
I knew nothing about them whatsoever. I meet people all the time. The Labour Secretary of State for Education, Lucy Powell
4:08
has told us that this speaks to a pattern of behaviour from you, Mr Farage
4:12
And I know nothing has been proven, but I have to remind you about the £5 million that came your way from Christopher Harbourn
4:18
How do you respond to that? Well, I mean, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party
4:23
have been selling peerages for years in return for political donations. Political donations lead into big government contracts
4:30
Also, I mean, you and I both know in the world of political funding all sorts of things have been done over decades that are wrong
4:36
we as a party have done nothing wrong a couple of our contractors have said things that shouldn't have been said
4:43
but you did commission, Dan Jukes and James Orr did commission the poll
4:47
Nick, I'm really sorry but you are completely off beam with this
4:51
there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever the conversations that I saw on that news piece yesterday
4:58
you don't think that puts you personally and reform in a particularly bad light
5:03
given what Labour says is your pattern of behaviour Well, Labour can say what they like. Of course they can. And they will and they do
5:12
But no, I promise you, the polling is not even an issue. Nothing. The party has not done anything wrong
5:20
But in trap conversations don't look good, and that's why we're taking the action we have
5:25
You know this radio station better than probably any other politician. You know that there are a lot of reform supporters who listen to this show
5:31
many of them are really disturbed and distressed by what they witnessed or are hearing today
5:36
What do you say to them personally? What I say to them is the party has done nothing wrong at all We not taken any illegal money of any kind whatsoever And you know this is a massive sting operation It must have cost them hundreds of thousands of
5:54
pounds, all foreign funded by the way. It's funny isn't it, we talk about foreign money
5:58
interfering in British politics. That's exactly what this was in every way. And they worked at
6:04
it and worked at it and they managed to get a couple of our contractors to say things that look
6:08
on the face of it injudicious. I mean, you say contract. He was your senior advisor
6:12
another head of policy, I think. You're making the sound as if there's somebody who came in to do the decorating
6:18
No, no, no. Look, these are not elected officials, but this is someone
6:21
that's worked for me for many, many years. You are absolutely... By the way, never been involved
6:26
in fundraising before. Never been involved in it. So that's why we've done
6:29
what we've done. And look, this sort of stuff goes on the whole time
6:33
I'm afraid. Attempts to stitch people up and stink people goes on the whole time
6:37
But we will not be distracted by it. Why do you suppose you're being, if you're right
6:42
why are you and your party being specifically targeted, if you're right in what you say
6:46
Because we threaten a whole establishment ecosystem that's been in place for over 100 years
6:51
It's not just who's government, you know, 10 years Labour, 10 years Tory, it's government commissions, it's government contracts
6:59
There's a whole ecosystem out there. And what they don't want is a new political party
7:04
a new set of faces coming in and taking over. Lastly on this, you'll be aware, I would imagine
7:09
of a gentleman called Bob Posner, who was chief executive of the UK Electoral Commission
7:13
who says, on the evidence that's been presented to him, he thinks there needs to be a criminal investigation
7:18
He is wrong as well, is he, Mr Farage? I saw what he said about the polling
7:22
He was completely wrong on that. Completely and utterly wrong on that
7:27
And you could have a criminal investigation if a criminal act has occurred. None has
7:31
And you're totally confident, as the Lib Dems and Labour the call for the police to launch an inquiry
7:36
is you're confident there's nothing to see here? Nothing has happened. Nothing has happened
7:42
No illegal transaction has occurred. Lastly, and I appreciate you, and I appreciate very much
7:47
you joining us on the first day of the conference, we need to speak about Reform UK. You rightly lauded the fact that for 500 days
7:54
the party was leading in the polls. That has changed considerably. Has the shine come off Reform UK, Mr Farage
8:01
Well, the last time we saw this was in early May. In early May, there were a series of polls put out by the Mail on Sunday saying that reform had fallen back sharply
8:09
And actually, on the day, we exceeded those polls by 6%. Has there been a bit of a burn and bounce
8:15
Yes, there has. Not particularly big, but there has. Have we had a little bit of a dip
8:19
Yes, we have. But I tell you what, we've got major plans coming up for the autumn of this year
8:25
And there will be a very big, significant political announcement made today, which will make people sit up and take notice
8:32
Well you know what my next question is going to be Mr Raj can you give us an indication I appreciate you want to keep obviously the main announcement Can you give us an indication of the area in which it in
8:43
Well, we are going to be talking about immigration, the boats, tax, many other things
8:49
And I think, you know, what we're saying is that Andy Vernon wants 10 years to turn the country around
8:55
We are saying within the first 100 days of a reform government, we can deliver big, significant changes to the country
9:02
And if we don't, if we don't, then those ministers will be sacked
9:06
Or as bent as a banana? Well, you can do what you want with polls, you know, and polls go up and polls go down and there's a 3% margin of error
9:14
The last poll I saw was neck and neck with Labour and three points ahead of the Tories
9:18
Now, you know, would I like it to be higher than that? Yes, I would. Will it be in three months' time? Yes, I think it will
9:24
And what does a successful conference look like in Birmingham for you and the party followers
9:28
a successful conference looks like the british public realizing that we're dead serious
9:34
but we're not going to make promises just to get into office for the sake of it we're doing this
9:39
because the country is fundamental change and that we are determined to do it and we will not let
9:44
anything get in our way and by that i mean i will talk about this later the house of lords the
9:50
judiciary the civil service we will not be obstructed and frankly if parliament has to sit
9:55
24 hours, day and night, to pass the right legislation and we cancel recesses to get the right laws through
10:01
That is what we'll do. Final question. Who do you hope to field in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, Mr Farage
10:08
Don't know. I'm meeting two or three people at lunchtime today who've applied. Not on the face of it, our most promising seat in the country, I have to say
10:17
but a fascinating contest between Labour and the Greens. Might it be Zia Yusuf
10:21
I don't think so, no. Why not? I don't think so. It's a totally unwinnable seat for us
10:28
You wouldn't put him in because he'd lose? That doesn't sound like the Nigel Farage I'd know
10:33
I thought you'd be more buccaneering, Mr Farage. Well, yeah, but I don't think, even if we have a good election
10:38
we're going to win 651 seats, to be absolutely honest with you. So there are, as with every party, good parts of the country
10:44
bad parts of the country, but it is going to be a very major test
10:48
for a new prime minister who, 50 days in, has done very little at all
10:53
Yes, I mean, I wonder if the opposition to Mr Youssef is because of that tweet that was published
10:59
No, no, no, no. The front runner being foisted on the people of Holborn by Labour was in our Parliament, was born in Somalia
11:06
Are you supportive of such a tweet? Look, Zia says things that are very strong at times
11:13
And we do think, we do think there are arguments for tightening up the rules
11:17
But look, I have no problem with Zia. I'll be on stage with him in about three hours' time. And you're supportive of that tweet, lastly, that social media post
11:24
I don't support every single thing everybody says all the time, no, but I let them get on with it
#news


