Nigel Farage has told friends he has been weighing up his future in politics following a string of security scares and funding scandals.The embattled Reform UK leader was forced to suspend two key aides on Friday in a bid to close down the latest funding controversy.Mr Farage denied that his party had broken any laws or ‘taken any dodgy money’.But allies acknowledged that he has been ground down by a series of recent controversies and setbacks.One said he had spent the second half of the summer contemplating his political future. He is said to be ‘furious’ about the impact on his family. Two family members have had their bank accounts frozen because of their association with him. Others are said to have faced security threats and media intrusion.A source close to Mr Farage denied he had considered ‘walking away’ but acknowledged that he had been weighing up his future.‘Like anyone, he does sometimes take stock of his life,’ the source said. ‘You cannot overstate how upsetting the murder of Ann Widdecombe has been and there are other security incidents that are not in the public domain which are very serious.‘The impact on his family is also very real and has got much worse and that is difficult to deal with. But he is not walking away.’Asked if he thought Mr Farage was close to throwing in the towel, long-time Reform donor Arron Banks said: ‘I don’t think so. That’s not Nigel.’ Under pressure: Nigel Farage faced more questions about Reform's funding as the party's annual conference got underway Mr Farage pictured this summer with close aide Dan Jukes, who he now describes as a 'contractor'Reform’s head of policy James Orr and long-serving Farage aide Dan Jukes stepped down on Friday over claims by Channel 4 News that Reform was willing to accept funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.Both men were secretly filmed discussing the arrangement, which experts have warned could breach electoral law.Rival parties have also asked the police to investigate separate allegations that the two men discussed funding a £500,000 donation from a fake American businessman via an undercover reporter posing as his UK-based son. The plan, which was also discussed on camera with Mr Farage, appeared to be designed to get round a ban on foreign donations.Reform insisted it had done nothing wrong. But the controversy overshadowed the party’s annual conference in Birmingham and threatens to mire Reform in further questions for months.The decision to throw Mr Jukes under the bus raised eyebrows among senior Reform figures. He is one of Mr Farage’s closest aides. He told undercover aides he expected to become No 10 chief of staff if Reform wins the next election.The Reform leader has previously said Mr Jukes is ‘like a son to me’ but on Friday described him as a ‘contractor’.Mr Farage dismissed questions about his own involvement in the controversy, saying he had no idea anything was untoward when he met the fake donors over a lunch of oysters and champagne.'I was in the middle of a by-election,’ he said. ‘I was told I had to go and meet these people. I was told they had a global family trust headquartered in London.'If you look at this video I asked the question “is this all above board, has this been legally checked?” I'm not an expert in how family trusts work. I didn't give it a second thought. It was just one of those things.’He said Mr Jukes was not authorised to deal with donations and accused him of ‘problematic loose pub talk’.Foreign companies are not a permissible source of funding for parties, including for payments for studies and research, and accepting donations from them could constitute a criminal offence.An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: ‘We are considering all relevant information, in line with our regulatory remit, and we are in touch with the Met Police.’The watchdog said any potential attempt to evade controls on donations is for the police to consider.Although Channel Four broadcast the allegations, the undercover filming was carried out by the US group Verbatim Investigations, which was founded by the Centre for Climate Reporting.Reform MP Suella Braverman said the investigation was ‘just another example of extreme climate activists masquerading as journalists trying to smear Reform’.Mr Jukes said: ‘This was entrapment over a prolonged period of nearly a year by foreign-funded climate change activists.‘I totally deny any wrongdoing but have stepped back from politics in order to clear my name.’Reform UK chairman and Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said there was ‘no chance’ that Mr Orr and Mr Jukes would return to the party.But Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice, MP for Boston and Skegness, did not rule out the possibility, saying ‘let’s wait and see’.Reform announced it had launched an investigation on Friday morning following the broadcast.A spokesman said: ‘Both individuals involved have stepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation.‘The party believes it is important that the investigation is allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice.’