Nigel Farage claims he 'wasn't listening' in donor drama meeting as Reform's disaster conference closes

Nigel Farage claims he 'wasn't listening' in donor drama meeting as Reform's disaster conference closes There were hundreds of empty seats in the hall as Farage gave his closing address at the event in Birmingham., which had been overshadowed by revelations in a Channel 4 sting Nigel Farage claimed he "wasn't listening" during the meeting that sparked the party's donor drama and derailed the party's conference. There were hundreds of empty seats in the hall as Farage gave his closing address at the event in Birmingham. It had been overshadowed by revelations in a Channel 4 sting, which showed senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources. Accepting donations from a foreign company could constitute a criminal offence, and the party has been reported to the police. Farage told ITV he was certain Reform had accepted no illicit donations and dismissed claims in the documentary by one of his long-term aides, Dan Jukes, that the party had previously concealed the origin of some donations as "loose pub talk". Two senior aides - including Dan Jukes, Farage's former Chief of Staff - stepped down on Friday. Mr Jukes, who denies any wrongdoing, and James Orr, the party's head of policy, have stood down pending an internal investigation of their appearance in the footage. Farage has said Mr Jukes and Mr Orr were "injudicious at best", while denying any wrongdoing and saying he was told that any arrangements were "above board". Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, he claimed to "know donation law better than anybody" and said the two men "should have done basic checks" before bringing potential donors to meet him. He said he "frankly wasn't even listening" during a meeting with the undercover reporters in Clacton, adding: "I was told there was a global family office based in London, so the money could have come from Singapore. "The money could come from all over the world, you know. Income could have come from all over the world into a family office based in London." Farage, who is already facing scrutiny over his failure to declare a £5 million gift from a party donor, said investigations "will go on". But the row has sparked speculation that Farage might not lead the party into the next general election. He was tight-lipped when confronted about his future by the Mirror on the conference floor. In his speech on the main stage, Mr Jenrick, who was privately educated, told Reform delegates: "People like my Dad who drove a white van, built a small business at our kitchen table down the road in Wolverhampton, and toiled for his family. "Because I know who I'm in politics for, where I’m from, and who my people are." He told Reform fans he was proud to "take my place amongst the ranks of the people’s army. "To stand and fight by your side. And to do so as Westminster went to war against us." Mr Jenrick told the final day of the Reform conference in Birmingham that he would increase the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 within the first 100 days of taking office. The threshold has been set at £12,570 since 2021 and is due to remain there until 2031. Meanwhile there was mounting fury over peaceful protesters being manhandled out of Farage's keynote speech on Friday - and assaulted by party members. West Midlands Police yesterday(SAT) said officers want to speak to a female protester who was assaulted by Reform members after she heckled Nigel Farage. A sickening clip shared online showed her being hit around the head with a crutch before her hair was pulled and a hand put over her mouth. The grey haired man seen assaulting her was not a member of the event's security team. Another woman was shown pulling her hair as she was escorted from Birmingham's NEC. Reform's Nadine Dorries yesterday(SAT) responded to a question by The Mirror by saying protesters should not expect to be treated gently. And chairman Lee Anderson made light of the incident in his speech, telling cheering supporters: "I did see an old chap, a pensioner, somewhere with a walking stick... Look I don't condone any of that type of behaviour, but if anyone wants to have a quick whip around later we are collecting for a new walking stick." Ms Dorries said: “If you’re going to come into a conference like this (to cause disruption) of course you’re not going to get gentle treatment.” A West Midlands Police spokesman told The Mirror: “We’re aware of a video circulating from the Reform UK Conference showing an incident with a protester. “We haven’t received a complaint but would ask the woman involved to come forward and contact us so we can carry out enquiries." Asked if she thought Mr Jenrick and Home Affairs Spokesman Zia Yusuf were "on manoeuvres, ex-Tory Suella Braverman said: "The simple answer is no. "Listen, I've seen a lot of skulduggery, let's say, within the Conservative Party. And it's another reason why I left." She added: "I know we're all behind 100% Nigel. I want him to be Prime Minister. So does Robert, so does Zia. And we're not going to stop working and fighting until we achieve that goal. Closing the conference on Saturday, Farage told delegates: "There will be times in this journey when there are good days and times when there are difficult days. "More often than not, things will be put upon us that are unfair. "But sometimes we will make mistakes, sometimes we will get things wrong and get a bit of a kicking for it. "But what this conference has shown is whatever you throw at the leadership, whatever they throw at you, the people's army, we immediately pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and start all over again." Responding, Bridget Phillipson MP, Chair of the Labour Party, said: "Farage finishes conference as he started: with desperate excuses and pathetic deflection tactics to try to distract from his and his Party's shady finances. The sleaze and scandals engulfing Reform aren't going away. Farage needs to wake up, take responsibility and realise the buck stops with him. "While Reform's chaos and scandals roll on, Andy Burnham is bringing back hope to Britain: through decisive action to give vital breathing space on the cost of living, and with key changes to drive growth in every postcode of our country."