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Reform UK has been reported to the police over allegations it breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company.
01:12 | Reform councillor George Madgwick wants to raise questions about the organisation behind the investigation into Reform's finances
10:52 | Caller Matthew is a Reform supporter and says people are 'sick to death' of the way the country is being run
After two party officials were caught accepting foreign donations in an undercover sting, Nigel Farage told LBC that Reform has done "nothing wrong." Both of those officials, James Orr and Dan Jukes, have now stepped down.
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 including the Lib Dems reporting Reform to the police over the claims.
Meanwhile, party spokesman Zia Yusuf has been accused for racism over his posts about Labour's potential candidate to face Zack Polanski in Sir Keir Starmer's north London seat.
Henry Riley speaks to Reform councillor George Madgwick direct from the party's conference about the mounting pressure on Reform UK.
Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.co.uk/btnc/thenewlbcapp
#HenryRiley #nigelfarage #reformuk #ukpolitics #uknews #LBC
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0:00
That's wrong, and the Liberal Democrats have reported you to the police
0:03
Very interesting that there was people sent in from a foreign-funded agency
0:07
to once again get involved in our politics. It seems a bit ironic and hypocritical
0:11
This is not the actions of a serious party, Councillor Magirate. This is a complete joke
0:16
We kick off tonight with Reform UK, and this with regards to their Home Affairs spokesperson, Zia Youssef
0:23
who's been described, I read, as Piers Morgan as a racist clown after a post with regards a Labour politician
0:29
Now, Mr Youssef wrote on his ex-feed yesterday evening, the front-runner being foisted on the people of Hoban by Labour
0:37
to replace the former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in our Parliament was born in Somalia
0:41
Do you understand what's happening? And that was what he left, and that has understandably led to many concerns
0:47
about his position. Quite what he means by do you understand what's happening
0:52
I'm not sure about. Certainly overshadowing the Reform UK conference, We've also seen this evening a Channel 4 investigation has been televised
1:02
where undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by Reform UK figures
1:08
they say, to break the law on party donations. They've been referred to the police
1:12
Councillor Madgwick, thank you for joining us. I do want to get into what Zia Yusuf has said
1:17
but I understand that obviously this is a party conference for reform and it's a very big one
1:23
So firstly, what are you hoping to hear from your party leader tomorrow? Yeah, I mean, it is a massive one. Thanks for having me on as well. It is a really big one
1:30
I don't know if you've ever been to a reform conference yourself, but, you know, this has really gone up in size
1:35
I was absolutely amazed today when I stepped through the door and saw how big this was and how vast it was
1:40
It's about four times the size of what it was last year. And there is so many business leaders and businesses that have got stands in the facility, which is what we missed last year
1:51
We didn't have too much of that last year, but this year businesses are really endorsing us
1:54
They come out in large numbers. We had some really high profile companies in our presence and it was a great day
1:59
It was a really good initial day to talk about business and businesses at the forefront of Reform UK
2:05
Whether you're part of the Alarm Clock Britain, you work for business or whether you own small to medium or large businesses
2:10
we really are a party like to drive business positively. And to have a day dedicated to that was really good
2:16
So it's been a good first day in relation to what we're hoping for the leader to say
2:20
look, we want to hear passion. We want to hear hope. We want to hear how our country is going to change the better under a reform UK government
2:29
And that's something that we expect to hear tomorrow with all the usual enthusiasm that we expect from our party leadership
2:35
It sounds very positive. What a shame, though, that it's been overshadowed by your ill-tempered, ill-mannered, rude party spokesperson, Zia Yusuf
2:44
Yeah, I mean, look, as I said, I've been at conference all day and I was here yesterday as well helping out
2:49
So I haven't heard too much. Only whispers that you do hear. And look, Robert Jenrick made a good point earlier
2:55
You know, we don't know the background or anything about this lady in particular, but it does open up a question of whether somebody that was born as a foreign national
3:03
is going to put Britain's interests first. Oh, come on, George. I think we need to hear from that person
3:08
George, come on. It's a success story of someone who has come to Britain as a refugee
3:13
She's from Somalia and she's now leading a council. Don't be so stupid. Come on
3:17
You know that that is a success story in Britain. I've always said that I am really, really supportive of legal migration through the legal routes
3:24
I think it's incredible when people come over here through the legal methods and achieve great things
3:29
You know, I know it's a cliche of my friend is this and friend is that, but it's true. I used to work in the hospitality sector and a lot of people in the hospitality sector were foreign national born
3:38
And they've come over now, got big companies with a lot of employees. And that's fantastic. That's incredible. And that's the kind of success stories we want to we want to hear and see
3:45
But we need to hear from that candidate if she gets, of course, selected. we don't know why why is there such a why are we so worried that she is some sort of foreign agent
3:53
by the sound of it that i mean that seems to be what does he use if mean by do you understand
3:57
what's happening i mean i don't know you have to ask him what do you think he means why would he
4:01
say it i have no idea well then he should delete the tweet then shouldn he once again i can comment on that i know you want to try and get an answer out from me when I been on your show and I always have a straight answer but unfortunately as I say I been slightly out of the loop the last 24 hours
4:14
because we've been focused on conference and I can't give you an answer. That's fair enough. But I would just say, George
4:19
you know, I've spoken to you a number of times, as you mentioned. We always have an interesting conversation
4:24
It's not always easy to get a reformed spokesperson on, so we're always grateful you come on
4:28
I don't think you believe this at all. And I think you're trying to basically cover for Zia Yusuf
4:34
because you don't want to get in trouble with the party. I mean, what he has said is wrong. Just apologise for it and move on
4:40
Honestly, simply, I haven't even read the tweet, so I'm more than happy to come on your show tomorrow or the next day
4:44
The frontrunner being foisted on the people of Hoban by Labour to replace the former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in our parliament
4:50
was born in Somalia. Do you understand what's happening? Look, I mean, listening to that from my point of view
4:56
and I'm talking on my point of view here, not on behalf of the party, But on my point of view here, look, I don't personally feel it is a good idea for someone that's come here illegally, as you said
5:07
I don't know if she is illegal or not. She was a refugee from Somalia
5:11
Refugee, yeah. And I think that it's a reasonable question to ask. She fled as a child from Somalia in the 1990s
5:17
I mean, a similar story, actually, to Nadiem Zahawi, who's in Reform UK, who came over from Iraq
5:23
Yeah, and he's been a success story of this country as well, whether you like him or don't like him
5:27
He has. He has a success story. And there's many people that have. And as I say, I don't know anything about this lady
5:32
I don't know anything about what Zia said. But what I'm here to talk about is the conference, which is going to be a really good weekend and week of really engaging
5:40
and massive amounts of people coming. We're expecting 8,000 people through the door tomorrow
5:44
It's going to be a really incredible conference. And I'm sure that you'll broadcast lots of the speeches
5:48
and have lots of questions following those speeches. We will, absolutely. And we'll be at all the conferences
5:53
And Natasha Clarke is there now. I have to ask you again, George. and I'm not giving you ad hominem attacks here
5:59
but there is this other story from Channel 4 News. I'm sure you're too busy to have seen it
6:03
but I can tell you the headline figure that three polls that were very close to Reform UK
6:07
they have involvement in, because we've seen the footage, it would appear, cost £32,500 in total
6:14
It's a secret plot it's being described as for Reform UK figures to break the law
6:18
I've seen the Channel 4 documentary. What is up with Reform UK
6:22
and just being seemingly so ill-prepared, so sort of unable to ask questions when it comes to finances
6:33
Yeah, I mean, as you say, I've been busy. I haven't watched it. I do plan to watch it this evening before I tuck myself into bed
6:39
to see what the interview is about, because I think it's always important for you to watch what's being reported
6:46
But what I did notice and what I have caught on so far is that, you know, this organisation
6:52
I think it was verbatim something or other, that did the investigation, you know, they were registered only as a company
6:56
just a couple of months ago, which is suspicious in itself to try and hide the people that are behind it
7:01
They're also funded foreign, you know, they've got foreign funders, which is ironic given the fact the story is about that
7:07
So I'd be interested to know who was funding that organisation, why they decided to infiltrate reform a year ago
7:14
why they spent a lot of time, who was funding it, whether the money that they spent
7:18
it's going to be disclosed and who actually funded those costs. And I'd be interested to
7:22
know that. As I say, I don't know too much about the story yet, but it seems very interesting that
7:26
there was people sent in from a foreign-funded agency to once again get involved in our politics
7:32
It seems a bit ironic and hypocritical. And as I say, I will watch it following tonight
7:36
but I am concerned about foreign interference within our politics. And that works both ways
7:41
And I think, you know, they have come in and done this. And I feel it really strange that they only
7:46
registered their company in July this year to hide who they are so I think I think you know and
7:50
you guys at LBC I'm sure will do a lot of covering of this and hopefully get to the bottom of it
7:55
because I'm interested as well that may be about the organization verbatim however it's indisputable
8:00
the footage that I've seen that channel 4 have broadcast that there are next to no questions
8:04
asked James Orr who's the head of policies he's only too happy to take this money opinion polls
8:09
published in major newspapers with clear links to reform that were not made clear That wrong And the Liberal Democrats have reported you to the police I mean this is not the actions of a serious party
8:22
Councillor Madurene. This is a complete joke. Well, it's only a joke if, number one, it's absolutely true
8:28
if there's a criminal offence taking place and it's not been an absolute set-up, hook, lined and sinkered
8:33
And the initial things that I've seen, I say I haven't watched it, so I do need to watch it
8:38
It's only half an hour long. I mean, all you're watching is Nigel Farage
8:41
and you're watching various figures in reform, including James Orr and Dan Dukes
8:46
who are basically boasting that they've managed to get these polls in major newspapers funded by someone who is sympathetic to reform
8:53
who turns out to be an actor, and with the full knowledge that reform are involved in the poll
8:58
That's not written anywhere, and The Times, The Telegraph, the newspapers that publish those polls
9:01
were not aware of the Reform UK involvement. So that is misleading the British press
9:08
It's interesting, isn't it? You're saying it's an independent poll company as well, so it'll be interesting to see how they're involved
9:13
But, you know, as I say, I've not watched it. I will watch it. I'll happily come back on your show, as I have said before
9:17
But over the next couple of days, we're focusing on conference. We want to do a really positive message
9:21
about how we're going to bring Britain forwards. We need to engage people, bring positivity in the room
9:26
and ensure that everyone is engaged with our process. I'm sure the media are going to be there and there
9:30
droves tomorrow asking questions, and we'll see how the weekend goes, and we'll report on that
9:34
But once I know more about the information, I'll happily come back on your show and discuss it
9:38
Until that point, it'll be fully improper for me to do so. I'm always grateful for your time, genuinely, because it's hard to get a Reform UK spokesperson
9:44
and Councillor Madriak does regularly come on, so I'm grateful to him for that. Councillor George Madriak is leader of Reform UK in Hampshire
9:49
He's at the party's conference in Birmingham, which, whatever you think of Reform UK
9:53
looks like it's hugely successful in terms of numbers. 8,000, I was reading earlier on
9:58
Nigel Farage has got a big speech tomorrow. And again, we're at a point where we're talking about Reform UK
10:05
and all we're talking about is scandal. And yes, this is clearly a sting operation by this organisation
10:12
But you know what? Reform UK figures, from what I've seen, were foolish enough to go along with it
10:17
So I've got next to no sympathy. Was there sympathy when it was cash for questions
10:21
Was there sympathy about some of the other stings that have been done about politicians? Unfortunately, no
10:27
That's democracy. That's living in a country where journalists can do this kind of investigative work
10:33
And how easy it is to get to the very front, the very top of Reform UK
10:39
Yet again, the party is in crisis, in scandal. And don't get me started on Zia Youssef
10:44
a man so obnoxious and rude and downright offensive with what he tweeted yesterday
10:50
Are Reform UK in crisis? Matthew is in Stanwell on reform. Hi, Matthew
10:55
Hello. Hello. Good, thanks. You called in to back reform, right? Yeah
11:00
Fantastic. Well, that's good because we haven't had anyone yet. What do you think about this tweet
11:04
I think it's just basically a load of nonsense. It's a witch hunt now
11:11
I mean, to me, it's... Listen, people say things, people do things
11:20
and, like, you know, something... To me, it's minor, but it gets blown out of proportion
11:29
You know, like, but I honestly think that... that I don't think it's going to do them any harm
11:35
I think people have just really got sick of it now. But in fairness, I mean, it's not like..
11:42
I mean, he just tweeted it out there. He said, do you understand what's happening because she was born in Somalia
11:46
I genuinely don't know what that means. Why is that a problem if she's born in Somalia
11:51
Well, then you don't know what that means. And... What do you
11:57
What I'm saying is, a lot of other people don't know what that means
12:02
So, you know, you can't say it means this or it means that
12:08
What do you think it means? Well, the same as you. I mean, at the end of the day, like, what's your space
12:17
You know? I mean I obviously didn write the tweet but I would take it to mean do you understand what happening Basically the people in Somalia are coming here and putting themselves in positions of power to basically take over
12:31
would be how I would read it. Yeah, but listen, that's what's been going on in the world for years
12:38
It will go to another country and, like, try to run the country
12:42
I mean, it's... But where's that happened? I mean, it hasn't happened here. No, I mean, all I'm saying is, like, the British Empire
12:48
went all around the world and said they'd discovered places and they didn't discover nowhere
12:54
They invaded everywhere. America, Australia. Do you know what I mean? So really, it's, you know, good luck to them
13:04
if they want to come here and get into... It's not happening here, though, is it, Matthew
13:09
where people are coming here to replace us? No, but then in that case, you've just answered your own question because..
13:19
Well, why do you say it then? No, what I'm saying is..
13:23
Do you care if your local MP was from Somalia? Would you care
13:28
No. Right. Well, why do you think Zia Yusuf cares? Well, I don't know
13:36
Obviously, he's got an itch a bit on it. I mean, I can't tell you why..
13:41
No, fair enough. ...he cares, but I'm just an example. I live in Stanwell, right next to Heathrow Airport, yeah
13:48
there's some hotels around here that have been used over the last few years
13:53
to house so-called refugees asylum seekers one in Stanwell there is nothing but problems there
14:03
I mean there was a stab in there a week or so ago someone drove a car into it
14:09
and threw a petrol bomb through it four days ago but I'm not denying that's a problem
14:14
fair enough, if that's happening then that sounds atrocious but I don't see why it's linked
14:20
The government have said that no one's there. It's not being used anymore
14:24
So they're obviously lying to the local citizens and saying, oh, no, it's empty when it's not
14:32
Well, I don't know the specific case of Stanwell. I have to look into that because if the government are saying that's empty and it's not
14:37
then obviously that is something worth it. It's called the Stanwell Hall Hotel. OK, well, let's not... I'll look into it, OK
14:42
What do you think about the finances, lastly, Matthew? Does that bother you? the fact that
14:47
it would seem Channel 4 and Verbatim have got reform having some dodgy business in opinion
14:53
polls potentially it doesn't bother me listen I've been on your show before
14:59
Keir Starmer with his glasses can I say something about Keir Starmer in
15:05
when Jimmy Savile first you know what I'm going to say because he's complete rollocks
15:14
well he wasn't like he was director of public prosecutions yeah yeah
15:20
but what I'm saying is and like what I'm saying is what are you saying
15:26
nothing would like it should have been picked up on earlier that
15:29
and I mean we got a guy like that that didn't pick up on but why are we blaming
15:33
Keir Starmer for that well oh come on Matthew he was involved in the bloody prosecution
15:38
of Jimmy Savile so why would he hide why would he hide it
15:43
If he was the man who prosecuted James Averall. It could have been picked up a lot earlier, couldn't it
15:47
I mean, it's all I'm saying. It could have been picked up a lot more
15:52
And listen... That's the case with every pedophile. You know what this country needs
15:57
Go on. It doesn't need an Oxford or a Cambridge graduate, yeah
16:02
It needs a normal guy off the street that knows what it's like to get up in the morning
16:07
and can't go and buy a box of matches. And is Nigel Farage that guy? I think he's closer than what a lot of them are
16:15
he's not, no, he's not the guy but out of all of them
16:19
he's the best out of the bad one and you didn't answer my question in the sense of finances
16:24
what did you think about when Keir Starmer accepted free glasses and a free suit
16:31
I said play to him alright, fair enough thanks Matthew
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