Reform UK discussion

[SargeNpton]

Farage may be in trouble on his first day back in Parliament yesterday, for filming within the estate (on the roof) without permission.

 

[jon0844]

Farage may be in trouble on his first day back in Parliament yesterday, for filming within the estate (on the roof) without permission.

Freedom of speech... Witch hunt... Establishment trying to shut a patriot down.

I can see one or all of those things being spouted in the coming days.

 

[Killingworth]

Farage may be in trouble on his first day back in Parliament yesterday, for filming within the estate (on the roof) without permission.

Creep!

He keeps pushing the boundaries in ways that may seem innocuous to the average person. It may well be ignorance of the rules but when he's challenged he'll play the victim card. Many will agree with his protest that the 'establishment' is out to get him, and in some ways they are!

Which postulates the other possibilty, he does it deliberately to get publicity.

 

[jon0844]

I think going forward we're going to see Nigel favour these controlled broadcasts, where he knows he can't be asked awkward questions by pesky journalists.

At the party conference, he can be sure he knows who is there and that he won't be asked anything. Any media he doesn't like who dare to turn up will be frogmarched out (see countless videos of Femi Oluwole being manhandled by Farage's heavies when he attempts to hold Nigel to account).

The base will be fully supportive of him and 'understand' that Farage is doing this because the loony left are always trying to kill him.

 

[Harpo]

I think going forward we're going to see Nigel favour these controlled broadcasts, where he knows he can't be asked awkward questions by pesky journalists.

Yes. Farage and his extremely fragile ego.

In return, I can’t see mainstream media providing live coverage of his staged pieces in the way that the BBC (for example) did for his ‘major speech about his future’ where he announced his resignation/restanding after an extended victim’s rant.

 

[jon0844]

Yes. Farage and his extremely fragile ego.

In return, I can’t see mainstream media providing live coverage of his staged pieces in the way that the BBC (for example) did for his ‘major speech about his future’ where he announced his resignation/restanding after an extended victim’s rant.

And that enables Farage to continue the victim complex, by saying he's being cancelled by the media.

It's quite obvious and tiresome at this point in time, given Trump has done the same for ten years now, but it works. The more you are held to account, the more of a victim you are. The offences are somehow ignored or justified in the minds of the supporters, many of whom will be more likely to vote for him.

Maybe Trump needs to have his own speech where he announces he could stand on Oxford Street and shoot somebody and still wouldn't lose voters.

 

[Minnietheminx]

Isn't it all a variation on the "flooding the zone (with s**t)" strategy? This time, with countless 'minor' issues to distract scrutiny of the big ones.

 

[BAFRA77]

Isn't it all a variation on the "flooding the zone (with s**t)" strategy?

Maybe he's getting in practice for the top job at Thames Water if he loses the by-election as a result of the Standards Investigation?

 

[Class73Electro]

Yes. Farage and his extremely fragile ego.

In return, I can’t see mainstream media providing live coverage of his staged pieces in the way that the BBC (for example) did for his ‘major speech about his future’ where he announced his resignation/restanding after an extended victim’s rant.

I don't know... BBC still seem to be allowing him his soap box:

Reform up against 'complainants' society', Farage tells BBC​

Nigel Farage has said the UK is a "complainants' society", as he faces ongoing questions about both his and his party's funding.

Quote from BBC Article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6857j2v1qo

 

[jon0844]

I don't know... BBC still seem to be allowing him his soap box:


Quote from BBC Article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd6857j2v1qo

The way he talks about being asked tough questions suggests he thinks people should not be allowed to. I wonder if he told the BBC he'd only give an interview if they didn't ask specific questions?

If he ever became PM, I assume he'd stop taking questions or just go full-Trump and slate every reporter that was 'nasty' to him, or perhaps threaten them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 17:36 ==

I think going forward we're going to see Nigel favour these controlled broadcasts, where he knows he can't be asked awkward questions by pesky journalists.

At the party conference, he can be sure he knows who is there and that he won't be asked anything. Any media he doesn't like who dare to turn up will be frogmarched out (see countless videos of Femi Oluwole being manhandled by Farage's heavies when he attempts to hold Nigel to account).

The base will be fully supportive of him and 'understand' that Farage is doing this because the loony left are always trying to kill him.

Update:

Reform UK bans three journalists who have investigated party from its conference

Guardian City editor Anna Isaac, investigative reporter Peter Geoghegan and broadcaster Michael Crick refused entry

www.theguardian.com

Reform UK has banned at least three journalists who have investigated the party and Nigel Farage from its annual conference, which begins on Thursday.

The Guardian’s City editor, Anna Isaac, the investigative reporter Peter Geoghegan and the broadcaster and biographer Michael Crick were told this week that their credentials to cover the event had been declined.

The party has billed its conference, which will take place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, as “the most talked about event of 2026”. Reform figures are hoping to use it as a reset after a difficult summer consumed by questions about an undeclared £5m gift Farage received shortly before he was elected in 2024.

A Reform spokesperson said Geoghegan and Crick were refused accreditation because the party viewed them as minor figures. They declined to comment on why Isaac was not given accreditation.

After the Guardian contacted Reform for comment, all three received emails saying their conference passes had been reinstated. However, when contacted again by the Guardian, a Reform spokesperson said this had been an administrative error and that they were still not accredited for the conference. They then received further emails confirming their exclusion.

 

[edwin_m]

Reform up against 'complainants' society', Farage tells BBC​

Nigel Farage has said the UK is a "complainants' society", as he faces ongoing questions about both his and his party's funding.

Complaining about a complainants' society?

Methinks he doth complain too much.

 

[styles]

The way he talks about being asked tough questions suggests he thinks people should not be allowed to. I wonder if he told the BBC he'd only give an interview if they didn't ask specific questions?

If he ever became PM, I assume he'd stop taking questions or just go full-Trump and slate every reporter that was 'nasty' to him, or perhaps threaten them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 17:36 ==



Update:

Reform UK bans three journalists who have investigated party from its conference

Guardian City editor Anna Isaac, investigative reporter Peter Geoghegan and broadcaster Michael Crick refused entry

www.theguardian.com

Straight out of the Trump playbook.

Comical that they reinstated their access, then said that was an admin error and revoked it again.

 

[AlterEgo]

Pure snowflake and pathetic victim invention again. A sad man with a sad and disempowered voter base who are attracted by this.

 

[Bald Rick]

Complaining about a complainants' society?

Methinks he doth complain too much.

Gold medal, sir.

 

[jon0844]

Straight out of the Trump playbook.

Comical that they reinstated their access, then said that was an admin error and revoked it again.

Perhaps someone within Reform realised the bad optics and cancelled the ban, before Farage had a hissy fit and said they still couldn't come regardless of the bad PR.

His base will be fine with them being banned. They're fake news. They lie. Part of the Establishment. Should be locked up as enemies of the state etc.

 

[brad465]

There's an almighty bombshell investigation in funding Reform UK received for polling, where undercover journalists filmed meetings several Reform UK members, including Farage and his close associated, illicitly funding key polls:

(Video of Channel 4 of the investigation into secret donations)

Exclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations

Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.

www.channel4.com

Nigel Farage and other senior members of Reform UK have been filmed by undercover reporters celebrating secret new foreign donations.

Channel 4 News and Verbatim, a group of investigative journalists, can today reveal a plot to break the law on party funding at the highest levels of Reform UK.

Earlier this year James Orr, the party’s Head of Policy, and Dan Jukes, a close aide to Mr Farage, arranged for a US company to fund three influential polls that the party had commissioned.

Results from these seemingly independent polls made headline news and two of them helped galvanise support for the party ahead of the local elections in May. But the public was not told that Reform UK had commissioned the polls and would be arranging for an “off the book” backer to fund them. The three polls cost £32,500 in total.

Mr Orr and Mr Jukes did not know that the supposed donors behind the US company were actually an undercover team posing as a wealthy American and his UK-based son, “William Lockwood”.

In a meeting over oysters and wine in his Clacton constituency, Mr Farage met with the undercover team in late July after the three polls had been published and paid for. He believed them to be “William” and his father. Mr Farage said the polling was “amazing” and provided “bang for buck,” adding: “It worked. Boom.”

When discussion turned to a potential larger donation to Reform UK one of the undercover team made clear that the plan would be for the UK-based son to make the payment and be the declared donor even though the money was originally coming from the US-based father. Such an arrangement – which was first proposed by Mr Jukes at an earlier meeting – would be illegal.

Mr Farage replied “thank you” and then “both of you, thank you.”

When the UK-based son had started talking about the “next phase” of their financial support, Mr Farage also said “it’s all above board”.

The undercover reporter had previously told Mr Farage’s aides that the potential future donation would be for £500,000.

At the time Mr Farage and his party were already facing intense scrutiny over their finances and fighting a by-election following allegations of secret funding, which Mr Farage has always denied was illegal.

The undercover work was conducted by Verbatim, an investigative group independent of Channel 4 News that was founded by journalists from the Centre for Climate Reporting. After being approached by Verbatim with the findings, journalists at Channel 4 News have since thoroughly checked and verified them. Channel 4 News did not pay for the polling and paid no money to Verbatim or any associated company.

Bob Posner, a lawyer and former Chief Executive of the UK Electoral Commission, has seen the key findings and said there should now be a criminal investigation as “serious criminal offences” may have been committed.

The US company that made the poll payments and the supposed American financier, resident in the US, are not permissible donors under electoral law. The Electoral Commission makes clear that political party donations include funding that helps a party meet costs and expenses, such as payments for studies and research.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Don’t worry, Farage will portray himself as the victim. Just another example of the establishment stitching him up, blah blah blah

 

[fgwrich]

Don’t worry, Farage will portray himself as the victim. Just another example of the establishment stitching him up, blah blah blah

Indeed. However, the law is pretty black and white over this and this could finally see Farage & his ilk land time at his majesties pleasure. And on top of the ongoing investigation by Parliament, Farage won’t be representing Clacton for long!

It’s also excellent timing by Channel 4 and Vertibam as it’s the first night of the Reform Conference.

Under current UK electoral law, accepting or facilitating illegal foreign or impermissible donations can result in criminal prosecution with maximum custodial sentences generally up to one year on indictment, alongside mandatory forfeiture of funds and civil fines.

Transparency UK

Legal Framework and Offences

• Permissible Donors: Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), UK political parties can only accept donations over £500 from "permissible donors" (such as individuals registered on a UK electoral roll or UK-registered businesses carrying out business in the UK)

• Criminal Liability: Knowingly concealing, accepting, or facilitating impermissible donations or failing to return unlawful foreign funds within the statutory 30-day window can lead to criminal charges for illegal or corrupt practices.
  
  • Penalties: Standard convictions on indictment for serious electoral finance offences traditionally carry maximum penalties including fines and custodial sentences of up to one year. (Note:
  
  Parliamentary committees and ongoing reforms have proposed strengthening these further, including recommendations to raise maximum sentences to three years for egregious foreign funding violations).

 

[SuspectUsual]

It’s also excellent timing by Channel 4 and Vertibam as it’s the first night of the Reform Conference

I disagree with this bit.

The timing gives Reform the opportunity to say it’s politically motivated because it’s been timed to drop the evening before their conference

It’s a big enough story to damage them - hopefully a lot - whenever it was published

 

[quantinghome]

Don’t worry, Farage will portray himself as the victim. Just another example of the establishment stitching him up, blah blah blah

From the little I've already seen it's pretty blatant. It may not be enough to sway the true believers but a lot, if not most, of Reform's appeal has been that they're different from the other parties and are going to shake things up. They're going to lose more of their media support - the right wing press will have even more reason to return to supporting the Tories.

 

[jon0844]

The Channel 4 YouTube video has been totally overrun with obvious bot comments trying to deflect and play down the scandal.

Problem is, they can't vote. They don't count.

I think a fair few people may see the real Farage and party now. For one, they weren't talking like men of the people who will sit with a pint in your local Wetherspoons.

The redacted comments about how they've done these illegal acts before will almost certainly be unredacted at some point, causing more scandal because it may well confirm that previous donations (including from someone's mum) were knowingly dodgy.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially as there might yet be more to come.

 

[Bayum]

Dan Jukes and James Orr have stepped down this morning after last nights exposé

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 08:03 ==

Senior aide to Nigel Farage Dan Jukes and Reform's Head of Policy, James Orr have both left their roles, the party confirmed this morning. Reform denies any wrongdoing.


A Reform UK spokesman said: "Reform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme.

Do people usually leave their roles when they’ve done nothing wrong?

 

[dosxuk]

I guess someone trusted with legal nous has pointed out this morning just how serious the accusations are and just trying to weather it as an attack from climate change protestors won't work when people start getting arrested. Although it does also give them a handy excuse to refuse to discuss the issue in the hope that it'll go away.

I don't remember that plan working out too well for people in the past though, especially when there's a concerted effort to drop damaging stories when they can be most damaging rather than all in one big go - just ask Boris.

 

[35B]

I’ll be interested to see how this plays. Those directly involved have been pushed to the side, while the actual claim is not about personal enrichment in the form of previous lobbying scandals.

Much depends on whether the wider public see it as “Reform don’t think the rules apply to them”, or just lose the will to live about the details of rules.

Meanwhile, reading the news today, I’m much more worried about the approach to a first 100 days - the incipient dictatorship vibes are loud.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Do people usually leave their roles when they’ve done nothing wrong?

Well

According to Lee Anderson this morning:

- an internal investigation has already started

- he can’t say who is leading it because it hasn’t begun yet

- Orr and Jules have rightly stepped aside whilst the investigation takes places

- Orr and Jules are gone and definitely not coming back

The man is an absolute car crash, but I suppose it’s very early and he hasn’t had chance to pat his pet bacon sandwich yet

More seriously, I really don’t know how Farage can get out of this - for once he’s caught fair and square in the middle of it, on camera, thanking a foreign donor. He doesn’t have the plausible deniability he’s relied on in the past

 

[nr758123]

More seriously, I really don’t know how Farage can get out of this - for once he’s caught fair and square in the middle of it, on camera, thanking a foreign donor. He doesn’t have the plausible deniability he’s relied on in the past

He can plausibly deny that he was in Clacton for the meeting which allegedly took place there.

 

[D6130]

Well! Well! Well! It transpires that Orr is a lecturer in Ethics at Cambridge University!
Can't see him lasting long in that job either!

 

[styles]

One of our local councillors has watched the documentary and decided to join Reform UK (Wales).

Absurd.

 

[jon0844]

Nigel was very confident he did nothing wrong, the party did nothing wrong and somehow he had no clue what his 'contractors' had done despite being so happy when he met the donors.

He's tripling down but must know he's in big trouble.

However, he's got a big announcement today which will almost certainly be about immigrants and boats. That'll make everyone forget!

 

[brad465]

One of our local councillors has watched the documentary and decided to join Reform UK (Wales).

Absurd.

He must think he could somehow get rich being trying to get into this operation.