The Metropolitan Police has opened a criminal inquiry into alleged attempts to disguise donations to Reform UK after detectives reviewed material relating to a Channel 4 broadcast. The force said the matters under consideration could amount to offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
What the force has said
Scotland Yard told reporters that, following the Channel 4 programme transmitted on 3 September, it received a number of reports concerning donations and polling involving a political party. Detectives assessed the material and concluded there were “potential offences requiring investigation”, which will be added to an existing inquiry by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team.
“Following a broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday, 3 September, the Met received a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving a political party.”
The force said detectives were seeking to obtain footage related to the broadcast and were working closely with the Electoral Commission and the Crown Prosecution Service as enquiries progress. It described the potential offences as similar in nature to matters already being investigated by the Special Enquiry Team concerning donations to the same party.
Party response and immediate consequences
Reform UK has denied any wrongdoing and said it would fully co-operate with the Met. The party’s statement confirms it will engage with investigators as enquiries continue.
The development adds to a broader scrutiny around political funding. The Met’s decision to subsume the new matters into its existing Special Enquiry Team investigation indicates detectives consider there may be links or parallels between the material disclosed by Channel 4 and previously reported information.
- 3 September – Channel 4 broadcast footage prompting multiple reports to police.
- Following broadcast – Met received and assessed reports relating to donations and polling.
- 9 September – Met confirms detectives have identified potential offences and will include the matters in the Special Enquiry Team probe.
Context and legal framework
The Police referred explicitly to potential breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the statute that regulates political donations and campaign finance in the UK. Under that legislation, donations from impermissible sources or arrangements intended to conceal the true origin of funds can constitute criminal conduct.
The Metropolitan Police’s engagement with the Electoral Commission and the CPS follows standard practice when matters of electoral law and possible criminality intersect. The Electoral Commission regulates party reporting and declarations, while the CPS advises on charging decisions where sufficient admissible evidence exists.
What happens next
Detectives have said they are seeking to obtain all relevant footage and will continue to investigate. The inclusion of these matters in the Special Enquiry Team’s existing work suggests further evidence-gathering and interviews may follow, subject to legal and operational considerations.
For now, the public record consists of the Channel 4 broadcast, the reports to police, the Met’s assessment that there are potential offences to investigate, and Reform UK’s denial and pledge to co-operate. Any determination of criminality will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent decisions by prosecutors.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 September | Channel 4 broadcast prompting reports to police |
| 9 September | Met confirms potential offences identified; matters to join Special Enquiry Team investigation |
As enquiries continue, political parties, regulators and the public will watch for next steps from the Met and any guidance or findings from the Electoral Commission and CPS that could clarify whether electoral law has been breached.
