Two senior Reform UK officials resign amid foreign donation scandal

Two senior officials from the hard‑right Reform UK party resigned on Friday after a hidden‑camera investigation appeared to capture them seeking substantial foreign money to finance party‑commissioned opinion polls and a prospective £500,000 donation from a United States donor. The footage, released by an investigative group, shows the officials discussing the logistics of receiving the funds, a practice prohibited under UK legislation that bars political parties from accepting donations exceeding £10,000 from overseas sources.

The resignations come amid heightened scrutiny of foreign influence in British politics, with authorities emphasizing compliance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act that bans large foreign contributions. Reform UK has not yet commented on the specific allegations, but the party confirmed that the two individuals have stepped down pending further internal review. The episode adds to ongoing concerns about the integrity of political financing and may prompt additional regulatory attention.