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