AIBU to share this Reform exposé from C4?

I can't comment on what Orr said as I don't know if he was 'being creative' or not.
I'm happy to wait for the results of the investigation.

That's a huge edit you've inserted there

Reform have lost many many candidates due to lack of vetting and finding out after the event that they have chosen rabid racists

@Efacsen There are currently at least five ongoing official investigations into Reform's dodgy financial dealings,

None of which have been proved.

how can you not be aware of this??
I don't speculate on outcomes before they occur.

According to James Orr, Reform's former Head of Policy, the party just can't attract enough people living in Britain to donate to it.

Why is that? What's going wrong?

At 10:29 on the video:
James Orr: We just don't have British resident donors. British entities that would support us. That's the grim reality.

Maybe you wouldn’t define it as joking about corrupting our democracy. But to me, toasting the impact of political polling secretly funded by big money foreign donors while laughing about “bang for buck,” makes a joke of our democracy and is grotesque and morally indefensible.

I get that you’ll be supporting Reform regardless, but my personal opinion is that that image of a smug, establishment figure thinking he can sell our democracy out to foreign interests for his personal own gain will stay with people for a long time, and is going to be enough to put the centre right off from voting Reform, and will massively strengthen the protest vote against him.

When you wish they didn't disappear the 😆 emoji.

Agree - and what;s more they were all in the same building yesterday so could have actually met and discussed how they were going to respond

Why?
No-one can respond until the full facts are known, and that will take an investigation.
Also the position of the two employees will be confidential.

What 'dodgy behaviour' are you accusing Reform of ?

There are currently at least five ongoing official investigations into Reform's dodgy financial dealings

Whilst your devotion is touching - how can you not be aware of this??

@PerkingFaintly Farage makes pie-in-the-sky empty promises – because he can.
All political parties in opposition have a habit of doing this.
Look at all of Labour's broken promises.

I can't answer your question because I don't have any facts about "Foreign Money" at my fingertips.
You had better direct your question to the Reform Treasurer.
If you join as a Member you can ask to see a copy of the Balance Sheet.

What 'dodgy behaviour' are you accusing Reform of ?
It seems that two of their employees have broken the terms of their contracts. Reform has instigated the correct procedure and started an investigation. Their Human Resources Dept will make sure that the correct steps are taken to avoid a claim for unfair dismissal.
Unless anyone understands Employment Law they aren't really in a position to comment.

Talking of which, could you answer my earlier question please @Florenceeiderduck ?

Why do you need all this foreign money?

Why aren't you able to fund Reform with donations by the UK electorate or UK overseas voters?

Agree - and what;s more they were all in the same building yesterday so could have actually met and discussed how they were going to respond

See that Cambridge univ is now investigating Orr's role

I'll also have to agree to disagree with this.

Farage makes pie-in-the-sky empty promises – because he can.

Nothing in his long record of failing to turn up to Parliament, to the European Parliament and to his constituency suggests that he will try to deliver anything.

Well, not for the British electorate anyway.

He does seem a little more interested on delivering for his wealthy foreign pals. Crapto, anyone?

Joke party. Bunch of clowns. I have no idea how we even got to the point where they actually became a point of focus. Yet we have people on here attempting to defend the dodgy behaviour. Grim.

Yes, the messaging is all over the shop. Some are obviously going down the lie and deny, even when that makes you look complicit or an idiot route. Others, the more savvy, are throwing Orr and the other one under the bus early doors.
Farage is obviously going for the second approach this time, so I'd expect to see more copy as they start to understand what they should be saying. On the ground support seems to be stalling with let's try to discredit other parties and parrot 'wait for the investigation' while they await what Farage wants them to say.

Given how Reform struggle with something fairly simple like vetting their candidates
As I understand it, the individuals involved weren't 'candidates' they were employees and as such are subject to the terms and conditions of their employment contracts.
I can't comment on what their disciplinary procedure is because I don't have that information.

Interestingly, that wasn't the consistent messaging from Reform yesterday - was it Lee Anderson who was stridently announcing 'they'd never be back' only to be contradicted by someone else

Given how Reform struggle with something fairly simple like vetting their candidates
we'll have to wait and see if they follow due process in this situation

I have a feeling the image of this smug, wealthy man swilling oysters while he jokes about corrupting our democracy will stay in a lot of people’s minds for a long time.
Exactly - it's only in your mind fueled by your own bias.
Nigel Farage has not joked about corrupting British democracy. While political opponents and critics have accused him of undermining or harming democratic norms, there is no record of him making a joke or lighthearted comment about corrupting the system.

"Stepping down" means just that.
It is common practice in any big organisation that people who are accused of a misdemeanor are suspended (often on full pay) while an investigation takes place.
After the investigation is concluded the individual will be either re-instated with an unblemished record or removed from the organisation. The later will consist of a series of processes and will be dependent on the individual's Contract of Employment which they will have signed.

We’ll have to agree to disagree. I think the image Farage projects as this anti-establishment figure has taken a massive hit over the last few months - that’s why his personal polling has sunk enormously.

I have a feeling the image of this smug, wealthy man swilling oysters while he jokes about corrupting our democracy will stay in a lot of people’s minds for a long time.

Of course it's relevant. The thread is about the documentary and what impact it will have on the political landscape, ie, whether it will reduce support for Reform.
PP is presumably a member of the electorate and is describing her reaction to the documentary. It's hugely helpful for anyone interested in the subject of the thread to get a sense of public response.
Just as its helpful to understand there are people out there who will double down in their support for them against all odds.
PP has articulated what many people will feel. Other people have shown us how Reform supporters will respond.
If all we did was 'debate facts' this would be a short and dull thread, starting and ending with "Reform have been shown on a documentary trying to circumvent the law to recieve funding from foreign donors" because that's the only fact here. Its the reactions that create discussion.

@Visiblyabove25 But politics is also very much about the narrative and image that political parties place in the publics head.
I disagree.
People are responsible about what goes on in their own heads.
Farage lives in a posh house in Kent and has a portfolio of properties in the area. He used to be a commodities broker and an MEP.
His appeal to Joe Public is because he actually listens to what the electorate want and will try to deliver it.

What do you think "stepping down"means?

Poor man he looks like a bit like a corpse - was it very cold at the conference

What is the recommended dress-up for women - ?Maid Marion, Boudicca, Queen Matilda - it would be good to know