A report by Channel 4 News showed senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources.
Nigel Farage has said Reform UK is ready to tackle the small boats crisis, as he attempts to move his party on from a row about donations.
The Reform leader denied wrongdoing throughout the party’s three-day conference after a report by Channel 4 News showed senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources.
Accepting donations from a foreign company, including donations in kind such as polling, could constitute a criminal offence and the party has been reported to the police.
Mr Farage admitted Reform UK would “make mistakes” as he closed the conference, which was billed as setting out the party’s plans for the first 100 days of government, but was overshadowed by the journalistic investigation.
Two senior figures – long-term Farage aide Dan Jukes, who denies wrongdoing, and head of policy James Orr – have been suspended pending an internal investigation and Mr Farage admitted the scandal would worry some voters.
The footage broadcast by Channel 4 was part of an investigation by members of undercover group Verbatim, who posed as an American donor and his son who had paid for polling allegedly commissioned by Reform and were seeking to channel money to the party.
Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, Mr Farage claimed to “know donation law better than anybody” and said Mr Jukes and Mr Orr “should have done basic checks” before bringing potential donors to meet him.
But he also said he “frankly wasn’t even listening” during a meeting with the undercover reporters in Clacton, adding: “I was told there was a global family office based in London, so the money could have come from Singapore.
“The money could come from all over the world, you know. Income could have come from all over the world into a family office based in London.”
Mr Farage’s poll ratings have fallen amid scrutiny of Reform’s finances and a Clacton by-election that was boycotted by other parties.
In an attempt to move on from the drama of the conference, Mr Farage wrote an opinion piece for The Sun in which he claimed his party’s pact with France’s National Rally would lead to the end of migrants making unauthorised Channel crossings.
Mr Farage wrote: “Establishment parties told us international treaties of the last century can’t be touched. They were wrong. This week, we proved it.
“The pieces are in place. We are ready. A Reform UK government will finally take back control of the Channel, restore order — and stop those boats for good.”
In his conference speech, Mr Farage said he would declare a national emergency and make Parliament sit round the clock to deliver on his party’s priorities.
Mr Farage’s speech was delayed for an hour by a “security alert” and disrupted by hecklers who were removed by security.
West Midlands Police have asked one of the protesters to come forward after footage showed audience members pulling her hair and grabbing her head.
