Scottish Liberal Democrat public service reform spokesperson David Green MSP has today written to Reform UK’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord, asking if he will categorically rule out ever having accepted or benefited from foreign donations.
It follows a Channel 4 News documentary showing Nigel Farage and Reform UK advisors discussing how to secure a foreign donation for the party.
Two senior Reform UK officials have stepped down in the wake of the documentary.
Foreign donations to UK political parties are banned to make sure that democratic decisions reflect the will of UK citizens, not those from overseas.
David Green MSP said:
These laws apply to Reform as much as they do to any other political party.
They exist to protect the integrity of our democracy and prevent interference from those overseas, including hostile states.
The Channel 4 reporting sparks big questions for the Reform party, including its leader in Scotland.
People are fed up with the sleaze and scandal infecting our politics. Malcolm Offord must do the right thing and categorically rule out ever having accepted or benefited from these kinds of dodgy donations.
David Green’s letter to Malcolm Offord is as follows:
Dear Malcolm,
I am writing to you following Channel 4 reporting that Mr James Orr, Senior Adviser to Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, facilitated a £32,500 donation from a foreign citizen and an impermissible donor.
As you will be aware, this would be a clear breach of Section 56 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. The funding also appears to have been channeled into political spending on behalf of Reform UK, and therefore a donation in kind, in a manner apparently structured so as to avoid the payment being recorded and reported as a donation to the Electoral Commission. This would constitute a clear breach of Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. Liberal Democrats have now written to the Electoral Commission and the Metropolitan Police to ask that they investigate.
These laws exist to protect the integrity of our democratic process by ensuring political decisions reflect the will of UK citizens, not those from overseas or hostile states seeking to interfere.
There are now serious questions about the source of funding for Reform parliamentarians and councillors. Will you, therefore, immediately clarify whether you or Reform UK in Scotland has ever accepted or benefited from a political donation from a foreign source?
It is imperative that the public are absolutely clear about the source of funding for Reform UK in Scotland.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
David Green
MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for public service reform
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3 Comments
Farage says “We didn’t actually take any money so we haven’t done anything wrong”….. If only Guy Fawkes could have used that excuse, “We didn’t actually blow up parliament, so we’ve done nothing wrong
I’m afraid I don’t like us spending time attacking ReformUK on issues around party funding – this is the type of stuff that just turns off voters who end up as non-voters because they just think all parties are corrupt/just interested in themselves rather than interested in the issues that concern voters.
Can we please ensure we spend our time directly attacking ReformUK policy proposals and why they would actually not work/have a huge negative impact etc…and presenting our proposals as the better alternative? For example, I would much rather be reading a letter to Malcolm Offord about his proposals to cut income tax rates and demanding details around how many people would see their Benefits cut and by how much, to pay for it. A real issue that affects real voters.
@Jana 5th Sep ’26 – 9:55am.’m afraid I don’t like us spending time attacking ReformUK on issues around party funding..
Jana, Reform are falling down in the polls precisely because of their financial irregularities, especially those of Farage and Tice… Farage went into hiding because of these funding problems and was forced to call a by-election which turned into a ‘Whitehall farce’..
Most voters don’t look into detailed party policies but DO look at headlines.. Yesterday Farage was desperate to ‘sell his 100 day policies’ but, instead had to dodge questions about the Ch4 programme..