In an interview with the BBC\u2019s Laura Kuenssberg, Farage described their comments as \u201cinjudicious at best\u201d and admitted the optics of the undercover filming were problematic for his party, which has in the past tried to suggest it would do politics differently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis looks bad, as does the sale of peerages, as does government contracts for donations,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are not the first people to be involved in a row over donations.\u201d<\/p>\n
The questions overshadowed the start of Reform\u2019s party conference in Birmingham, where numerous hecklers were removed from the hall during Farage\u2019s keynote speech.<\/p>\n
Footage has emerged online of one of the women being dragged by her hair, with a man also appearing to hit female protesters with his crutch.<\/p>\n
When questioned about the incident by Jon Sopel on Sky News\u2019s Sunday Morning programme, Robert Jenrick<\/a> said: \u201cOh, boohoo. We\u2019re now in a country, Jon, where somebody who is \u2013 whatever she is \u2013 a far-left protester, goes into a party conference, tries to wreck the leader\u2019s speech, and cries foul if a pensioner knocks her over the head with their Zimmer frame.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, come on, get a life,\u201d Reform\u2019s treasury spokesperson added.<\/p>\n West Midlands police said they were aware of the footage, adding: \u201cWe would ask the woman involved to come forward. Anyone with any information should contact us on 101 quoting log number 924 of 5 September.\u201d<\/p>\n After an official complaint that Farage and his aides had broken political funding laws, the Metropolitan police<\/a> said it was assessing the evidence, with sources suggesting a full investigation is expected. They all deny wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Scotland Yard could extend an existing investigation into whether Reform took donations channelled through an intermediary from potentially impermissible sources, which the party and donors deny.<\/p>\n Farage is already facing intense scrutiny about Reform\u2019s finances, as well as about his \u00a35m gift<\/a> from a crypto billionaire shortly before he announced he would stand in the 2024 general election, which he has since said was intended to pay for security.<\/p>\n The Reform MP Robert Jenrick has said a KC reviewed the evidence and found the party had not broken any laws. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja\/Reuters<\/p>\n In an earlier extract of the BBC interview, Farage also claimed he \u201cwasn\u2019t even listening\u201d<\/a> during the meeting at the centre of the controversy, and that he knew donation law \u201cbetter than anybody\u201d, as he sought to limit the damage caused by the allegations.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | Every weekday<\/p>\n Sign up to First Edition<\/p>\n Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what\u2019s happening and why it matters<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Jenrick said on Sunday that he had seen legal advice that the party had not in fact broken electoral law over foreign donations but that lessons would be learned from the episode.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to investigate exactly what happened,\u201d Jenrick told Sky News. \u201cIt\u2019s right to have due process. But this is not the way that Reform conducts itself.<\/p>\n \u201cLike any political party, we seek to abide by the law at all times, and we believe we have in this case. In fact, I\u2019ve reviewed the legal advice from the KC who\u2019s advised the party in the last 48 hours, and it shows that, yeah, we did.<\/p>\n \u201cBut do we want for the best version of ourselves? Yes, absolutely. And no doubt there will be lessons to be learnt from this.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking after the BBC interview, the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said: \u201cFor a political party that don\u2019t like foreigners much, they do seem to have a soft spot for foreign cash. We have rules in this country about how our democracy works and everyone has to stick to them.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI think you see someone struggling to decide whether they\u2019re really serious about trying to run for power or want to keep the protest going.\u201d<\/p>\n Get in touch<\/p>\n Contact Guardian Politics about this story<\/p>\n The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact the Guardian’s UK Politics team confidentially using the following methods:<\/p>\n Secure Messaging in the Guardian app<\/p>\n The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.<\/p>\n If you don’t already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS<\/a>\/Android<\/a>) and go to the menu. Scroll down and click on Secure Messaging. When asked who you wish to contact please select the Politics (UK) team.<\/p>\n Email<\/p>\n For encrypted email correspondence you can create a free Proton Mail account and email us at guardian.politics.desk@protonmail.com.<\/p>\n SecureDropIf you can safely use the tor network without being observed or monitored you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788716892_130_1000.jpg\")
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