Inside the Reform UK Undercover Investigation: First Interview with Verbatim’s Legal Advisor

Is the Verbatim Investigations/C4 film which shows senior (now ex) Reform UK officials apparently engaged in procuring illegal foreign donations to the Party a “hoax”, as Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick have claimed, or a brilliant example of investigative journalism in the public interest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXut3s90rUI)? And did the undercover operation breach journalistic ethics by crossing the line into “entrapment”, or did the evidence captured on film simply reveal the willingness of Reform’s former Head of Policy, James Orr, and senior aide to Farage, Dan Jukes, to operate an “off the books” illegal donation scheme? What specific criminal offences under UK law are apparent from the broadcast footage and what defences might be run in he event of criminal charges? And is major Reform UK donor Aaron Banks right to say that the public “don’t give a rat’s arse” about the behaviour of Orr, Jukes and Farage as revealed by Verbatim’s investigation?

To debate the fascinating issues generated by the C4/Verbatim sting operation on Double Jeopardy, Tim Owen KC is joined by electoral and media law expert Gavin Millar KC who acted as legal advisor to Verbatim during the year-long undercover operation. In his first public interview since the documentary was published, Gavin explains the ethical principles which guide this kind of investigation, the criminal offences set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and the difference between the role of a journalist as opposed to that of the police when investigating potential wrongdoing by politicians. The duo discuss the weaknesses in current electoral law and the limited powers of the Electoral Commission to tackle dodgy financial dealings by political parties.

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Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.

What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system?  Ge