Essex readers say Nigel Farage should quit as MP in poll

The poll was launched on Friday after a Verbatim investigation, broadcast by Channel 4, examined claims involving foreign donations to Reform UK and whether party leader Mr Farage knew about them. Foreign donations are prohibited under electoral law. Of the 1,001 people who answered the question, 818 — 82 per cent — said Mr Farage should step down as an MP again. A further 177 people, or 18 per cent, said he should not, while six respondents were unsure. Poll - Of the 1001 people who answered the poll, 82 per cent said Nigel Farage should step down as MP again (Image: Flourish) A separate question asked whether people believed Mr Farage would become the next Prime Minister. Of 714 votes cast, 607 people — 85 per cent — said no. Just 98 respondents, 14 per cent, said yes, while nine people were unsure. The results also suggest the investigation has affected views of Reform UK among a sizeable proportion of respondents. Of 682 people who answered that question, 29 per cent said their perception of the party had changed, compared with 70 per cent who said it had not. The poll, which closed on Monday, is an unscientific reader poll rather than a representative survey, meaning the findings reflect the views of those who chose to take part and cannot be used to predict public opinion more widely. Opinion - 29 per cent of the 682 polled said their perception of Reform UK had changed following the investigations into the party's finances (Image: Flourish) Last week, Channel 4 News broadcast undercover footage gathered by Verbatim Investigations which it said showed senior Reform UK figures discussing ways to obtain support form an American donor, which would not be permitted under electoral law. The investigation alleged a US company paid for three Reform-commissioned polls costing £32,500 and showed discussions about a proposed £500,000 donation via a UK-based son. Channel 4 said the larger payment was never made; Reform denies wrongdoing and has launched an internal investigation. Leader - Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during the Reform UK National Conference, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, on Saturday (Image: Will Colebourne/ PA Wire) Rupert Compton, a reader who commented, said: 'It seems to be open season on Reform by those who fear the party and the damage they may cause to the established order. 'Wherever the money is coming is of no interest to me, where my vote is going is of major importance to us all.' Another reader said: 'People keep saying the 'establishment' and media is picking on Farage, but expenses, misappropriation of funds, bribes, etc get investigated no matter which party or party member is at the heart of it. 'It just happens that Reform Ltd, its CEO and employees tend to bend the rules more than the other parties and to a much larger extreme so it makes more exciting reading. 'All parties make mistakes, but Reform Ltd, just can't help themselves and just don't learn - they jump from scandal to scandal and it's always someone else's fault,' they added.