Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed that he “wasn’t even listening” during a meeting at the centre of a controversy over whether his party considered evading the law on accepting donations from overseas, according to the Guardian.
Farage made the comments during interviews as he sought to salvage the final day of his party conference from a fallout that has already cost him two of his closest aides, the outlet reported.
The Reform UK leader maintained his innocence in the overseas funding controversy. He also claimed that he knew donation law “better than anybody” as he addressed the issue publicly.
The controversy centres on the question of whether Farage’s party considered evading UK law that governs the acceptance of donations from overseas sources.
According to the Guardian, the affair has already had significant consequences within the party, with two of Farage’s closest aides departing amid the fallout.
Farage’s remarks came on the last day of the Reform UK conference, an event that was overshadowed by the funding row rather than the party’s intended agenda.
Why it matters
UK law places strict limits on political donations from overseas sources, and any suggestion that a party considered circumventing those rules raises questions about transparency and compliance. With Reform UK a growing force in British politics, the controversy and the departure of two senior aides could affect public trust in the party.