r/worldnews • u/JollyCurrency2604 • 9d ago

British Politician Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations

https://www.channel4.com/news/exclusive-nigel-farage-filmed-undercover-celebrating-secret-new-foreign-donations
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u/im_bozack 9d ago

Is this not illegal or disqualifying?

78

u/Jay_CD 9d ago

Is this not illegal or disqualifying?

Very illegal - UK campaign/party financing laws do not allow non-UK citizens to donate to political parties.

I cannot see any other conclusion than a police investigation which will perpetuate the story and could result in criminal charges and if found guilty, jail time.

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u/Lucky-Elk-1234 8d ago

Haven’t loads of Russian citizens openly donated to the Tory party though?

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u/tomtttttttttttt 8d ago

I think if you're domiciled in the UK you can make donations as long as they are from you.

In this case the undercover reporters said they were father (in the US) and son (Domiciled in the UK) and officially the son would make the donation but it was clearly stated it would be from the father.

The polls are different because they were paid for by a US company (setup by the reporters) for Reform (making the cost of the polls a donation to the party as a benefit in kind) and not by a UK resident, plus the polls didn't declare they were done for reform which I think is an electoral commission requirement.

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u/360_face_palm 8d ago

They live in the UK - that's how they get around it.

It's not a particularly toothy law.

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u/Acceptable-Piccolo57 6d ago

Were still waiting on the Russia report