RTÉ says "allegations", Novara says "busted", the Morning Star says "scandal"

What happened. Channel 4 News broadcast a half-hour report on Reform UK's donations about 22 hours before Nigel Farage's conference speech, RTÉ says — footage it describes as showing "senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources". Farage told delegates he had broken no laws.

The six reports part on mood, not on facts.

The reply. Three carry Farage's answer, two quoting him. Three carry none.

Counting is not neutral. Count filings and three of six keep it conditional; count newsrooms and it is two. RTÉ filed three times. We count filings.

What is not settled. No report we hold names a sum, a donor or a country, and none cites a finding by the Electoral Commission, the police or a court. The Morning Star's headline says Farage's inner circle was suspended; nothing else we hold says so, and its own text does not return to it. We hold no copy of the broadcast. Only RTÉ records the speech delayed by a "security alert" and interrupted four times.

This story is about whether Reform UK, the party that has led or challenged for the lead in British polls, broke the law that bars foreign money from UK politics.

How it got here. - Nigel Farage led the campaign to take Britain out of the European Union, which it left in 2020. Reform UK began in 2018 as the Brexit Party and took its current name in 2021. - Farage became leader in 2024 and won a seat in Parliament for Clacton at the general election that July, which Labour won. - UK law lets only people and companies registered in Britain fund parties. The Electoral Commission enforces those rules. Accepting a donation from a foreign company, including one paid in kind such as polling, could be a criminal offence, RTÉ reports. - This summer the questions piled up. The Guardian reported an undeclared £5 million gift to Farage from Christopher Harborne, a crypto billionaire based in Thailand, RTÉ says. The Sunday Times investigated George Cottrell, a long-time Farage aide, over his alleged role in funding the party. - On 3 September Channel 4 News broadcast secret filming by the undercover group Verbatim. Its reporters posed as an American donor and his son who had paid for polling.

Who is involved. - Farage and Reform, who say the party broke no law and call the filming entrapment. - James Orr and Dan Jukes, the head of policy and a senior aide, who were filmed and have stood down. - The police, the Electoral Commission and Parliament's standards commissioner, who decide whether any rule was broken. The Liberal Democrats filed a complaint with the standards commissioner. - Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens, Reform's rivals for the same voters.

What is at stake. Farage expects an early election in spring 2026, RTÉ reports. A finding against the party could mean criminal charges. If nothing is found, Reform can call the filming a stunt. Parliament is also debating how donations should be policed.

Where it stands. No regulator, court or police force has reached a finding in any report we hold. RTÉ says police are examining four funding issues. Poll averages show Reform falling from about 30% to just under 25% this year, RTÉ reports.