Undercover footage broadcast by Channel 4 News has revealed senior Reform UK figures appearing to discuss how to circumvent UK electoral laws prohibiting political donations from overseas.

The film, recorded by investigative group Verbatim, shows a reporter posing as a wealthy American donor and another posing as his UK-based son. In one recorded meeting, Nigel Farage's senior adviser Dan Jukes appeared to suggest that the US-based father could make a significant financial contribution by channelling the money through his British-based son to bypass foreign donation rules.

Footage also captured Reform’s head of policy, James Orr, discussing £30,000 of polling paid for by the fake US donor. In the recording, Mr Orr can be heard saying that Mr Farage “doesn't know, won't know” about the funding arrangement and that it was the sort of thing the party leader would “rather not know”, while also asserting the setup was “totally legit”.

Mr Farage was himself filmed meeting the undercover reporters. In one clip, after being briefed on the proposed funding arrangement, Mr Farage says: “Thank you both.” In a subsequent meeting in Clacton, the party leader was recorded praising the impact of the polling, describing it as “amazing”.

We previously reported that the polling cost £32,500; the broadcast confirms the payment was £30,000 for three polls. The research was subsequently reported in The Times and The Daily Telegraph without the newspapers knowing it had been commissioned by Reform UK and financed by an American source. The benefit in kind was not registered with the Electoral Commission.

Under UK electoral law, foreign companies and non-UK citizens are banned from donating to political parties, including paying for polling and research on their behalf. Failing to declare political donations or facilitating impermissible donations can constitute a criminal offence.

Reform UK has strongly denied any wrongdoing, maintaining it was the victim of an orchestrated sting. A party spokesperson said: “Reform UK has been the target of a hoax perpetuated by foreign-funded climate-change activists posing as would-be party donors.” Mr Orr has previously insisted on social media that no money reached the party directly and that the polling was published independently for the general public.

The Metropolitan Police is currently assessing the allegations after receiving a formal complaint from the Liberal Democrats, who allege the arrangement was structured to evade Electoral Commission rules under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. Labour and the Green Party have also called for formal investigations.

The revelations come as Reform UK gathers for its annual conference in Birmingham, with Mr Farage already facing an inquiry by the parliamentary standards watchdog over an undeclared £5 million payment from cryptocurrency investor Chris Harborne, which Mr Farage maintains was a private gift for personal security.

The Electoral Commission and Scotland Yard have yet to confirm whether full formal investigations will be launched. I will be following the story as those decisions are made.