Why Reform UK undercover donations claims are legally complicated</p><p>

Reform UK's leaders and supporters have been embroiled in a row over foreign donations, with allegations surfacing during undercover filming by Verbatim Investigations.

The party denies any wrongdoing and says it is investigating. Robert Jenrick, Reform's economy spokesperson, said the two senior aides in the film had been suspended.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have reported Reform to the Metropolitan Police, which says it is assessing the claims but has not launched an investigation.

The Electoral Commission says it is 'in touch' with the police, but has not launched an investigation into the claims made about Reform's foreign donations.

The proposed £500,000 donation was never made and would have totaled £32,500 if it had been declared. Reform officials step down after undercover donations report.

'

The public was not told who had commissioned and paid for the three polls. Polling firm JL Partners, the Telegraph and the Times have all said this was not known to them either.

During a press conference on Friday, Farage referred to this as 'loose pub talk' with 'a bit of boasting, a bit of jack-the-lad-dery going on there'.

'Donations from the names that were mentioned have not occurred, don't exist… in our accounts,' he added.

It would be for the Electoral Commission and the police to assess any previous Reform donations and their record of declarations. Reform and the individuals involved in the investigations have denied any wrongdoing.

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.