Two senior officials within the Reform UK party have stepped down amid an internal investigation into claims about the party's funding, as detailed in a Channel 4 News report. Nigel Farage's senior aide Dan Jukes and Reform's head of policy James Orr have both relinquished their positions pending the outcome of the probe.

The resignations come as the party prepares for its conference, threatening to overshadow its planned events. The controversy centers on undercover filming conducted by Verbatim Investigations, which was broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday night.

During the report, Jukes was filmed suggesting a method to circumvent electoral law to facilitate a substantial foreign donation of £500,000 to the party. Separately, James Orr reportedly suggested to an undercover reporter that his father, who would not be a permissible donor under UK electoral law, could fund opinion polling for the party. Channel 4 stated that the material was verified before broadcast.

Reform UK has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the report as a "hoax" orchestrated by "foreign funded climate change activists." The party maintains that the investigation needs to proceed independently. The allegations have prompted both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties to report Reform UK to the Metropolitan Police, who have stated they will assess the information provided.

Electoral law in the UK mandates that political parties can only accept donations from permissible donors, who must be UK registered voters or UK-registered companies. Accepting foreign funding or failing to disclose the source of donations is illegal.

The Channel 4 report featured footage from a meeting in Clacton, Essex, where a reporter posed as the UK-based son of an American father. Both Dan Jukes and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage were present. Farage is heard on the recording stating "it's all above board" after the supposed son explained the proposed donation structure.

In total, Channel 4 News reported that Reform UK commissioned three opinion polls costing £32,500, the funding for which was allegedly not disclosed. Such non-disclosure would also be a breach of electoral law.

Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson told Sky News on Friday morning that there was "no chance" of Jukes and Orr returning to the party. However, this statement appeared to be contradicted by deputy leader Richard Tice, who suggested on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the situation was not definitive, indicating ongoing internal discussions and a potential for differing interpretations within the party leadership.