Farage claim over £5m reward for Brexit puts press office line under scrutiny, close aide says

Aide questions Farage’s explanation

Farage told the Sun on 14 May that the £5m had been given unconditionally, adding that it was a reward for his 27 years of campaigning for Brexit. Jukes later said that this was not the message the press office was meant to put forward, appearing to suggest Farage had changed his explanation on air.

In the footage, Jukes also said he would be happy to accept a £5m personal gift without conditions. He described the situation as awkward and said he was a realist who spoke plainly.

Questions about the funds

The undercover reporter asked whether Reform could benefit from money from a US limited liability company through means other than secret polling. The article describes such polls as foreign-funded and apparently organised by Reform officials, but not publicly attributed to the party.

The footage appeared to raise the possibility that the money was not unconditional and might have been structured to get around donation rules. If it were payment for work, questions could also arise about whether it should be taxed.

Investigations and timing

Reform’s internal investigation concluded that Jukes and senior party official James Orr had not broken laws prohibiting foreign donations. A police investigation is ongoing.

Farage and Reform respond

Farage has offered several explanations for accepting the money, including that it was for his security and that it rewarded his Brexit campaigning. He has declined to say how much, if any, went toward security, saying it was nobody’s business and that he could spend it on Ferraris.

A spokesperson for Farage said Jukes had accurately described the gift as money for Farage’s security for the rest of his life. The spokesperson said Jukes denied wrongdoing and referred to the findings of Reform’s internal investigation.