Laura Kuenssberg called out Nigel Farage for his baseless claims that his party is unfairly treated by the British media.
The BBC politics presenter interviewed Farage at Reform’s conference at the end of a disastrous week for the party.
After polls showing Reform’s support is flatlining and a number of disappointing by-election performances, the party and Farage were then the subject of a bombshell undercover investigation broadcast by Channel 4 News.
In the report, carried out by undercover journalists from Verbatim, Farage was caught on camera appearing to condone illegal foreign political donations.
One of Farage’s longest-serving advisors Dan Jukes and Reform Head of Policy James Orr both resigned on Friday, after the exposé caught the pair allegedly trying to facilitate a deal which would circumvent Parliamentary rules.
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Verbatim claim Orr and Jukes took funding from a US company to commission three supposedly independent polls at £32,500 earlier this year.
The report also says Jukes suggested a way to get around those electoral rules to secure a £500,000 donation from the US to the party.
British electoral law says political donations can only be made by someone eligible to vote in the UK or a UK-registered company.
The Metropolitan Police and Electoral Commission have said they are assessing reports. At the time of writing, no investigation has been opened into Reform, with the party insisting they have broken no laws.
Speaking to Kuenssberg for her Sunday politics programme, Farage denied Reform had ever accepted any foreign donations.
Farage said he “frankly wasn’t listening” when Dukes was discussing a potential law-breaking donation with the undercover reporters during a meeting Farage was present in.
Farage repeats ‘establishment stitch-up’ claims
He went on to claim that the report was the latest example of the “establishment eco-system” trying to stop him and his party.
Farage has previously claimed there is an “establishment stitch-up” against him.
When he was asked for evidence of this by Kuenssberg, Farage replied: “Hang on, how did Richard Tice’s bank accounts appear in a newspaper? I know what being targeted is. I was debanked a couple of years ago.”
But Kuenssberg was having none of Farage’s claims, pointing out to the Clacton MP that it is absurd to claim he is the only senior politician in British politics to be facing scrutiny and investigations.
“So many other party leaders also get investigated,” she told Farage.
Kuenssberg continued: “You’re suggesting that you’re somehow treated unfairly. Keir Starmer was investigated over buying a field for his mother’s donkeys and he was hauled over the coals for taking free glasses and suits.
“Zack Polanski got into trouble over not paying his council tax.
“Boris Johnson was investigated over whether a wealthy donor paid for expensive wallpaper in the Downing Street flat.
“You have repeatedly told the public, ‘it’s unfair, it’s only on you’. It’s not true. That is the scrutiny that comes with you seeking to be prime minister.”
“I don’t think the others have been debanked,’ Farage responded. “I don’t think the others have been kicked out by their pension provider. I don’t think the others have literally had an attempt to wipe them out of society, and their families as well.”
He added: “There is no doubt there is huge political prejudice against Reform right across the corporate world and right across the establishment.”
Kuenssberg hit back: “But where’s your evidence that questions about your financial affairs that are being asked again and again and again – even your own mistake not reporting things properly to the parliamentary authorities on 17 different occasions.
“Where’s your evidence that’s some stitch-up, some big plot? It sounds like you’re just saying ‘poor me’.”
Farage denied this suggestion, saying he understood the scrutiny that comes with being a senior politician.