Reform UK party chairman Lee Anderson has stated there is "no chance" that two senior aides who stepped down over political donation allegations will be allowed back into the party.

 

Two aides suspended over donations allegations have 'no chance of coming back', says Reform UK's chair Lee Anderson

Reform UK party chairman Lee Anderson has stated there is "no chance" that two senior aides who stepped down over political donation allegations will be allowed back into the party.

The decision follows an undercover sting operation by Channel 4 News and the investigative group Verbatim.

Key Details of the Scandal

• The Officials: James Orr (Reform UK's Head of Policy) and Dan Jukes (a close aide to leader Nigel Farage) both left their roles on September 4, 2026.
• The Allegations: Undercover reporters posed as foreign donors offering to fund internal polling data for the party. Under UK electoral law, it is illegal for political parties to accept funding or research studies paid for by foreign companies.
• The Timing: The scandal broke on the opening morning of Reform UK's annual conference in Birmingham.

Conflicting Stances Within the Party

While party chairman Lee Anderson gave a firm stance to reporters on September 4, 2026, stating they were told to leave and will not return, other senior leadership figures have been less definitive. Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice took a more cautious approach when questioned on the same day, refusing to rule out a return completely and telling journalists to "let's wait and see". [1, 2]

Reform UK has officially denied any wrongdoing and has launched an internal investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the Labour Party has formally referred the allegations to the Metropolitan Police to look into potential criminal breaches of electoral law