Reform UK is being examined by police over allegations of overspending in Nigel Farage’s Clacton campaign during last year’s general election.
The Reform UK leader has been accused by a former party member of failing to declare some expenses during his campaign last year that may have taken him over election spending limits.
Farage spent just £400 shy of the statutory spending limit of £20,660 in the Essex constituency.
But he faces allegations that he did not declare several expenses, including for the loan of an armoured Land Rover and a Reform-themed bar in his campaign office.
Now, Essex Police has confirmed they are assessing the claims.
A statement released this afternoon said: ‘We are assessing a report relating to alleged misreported expenditure by a political party in connection with the 2024 general election, following a referral to us by the Met Police.’
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An assessment is the preliminary stage following a report in which police decide whether it is worth launching a full investigation.
Councillor Richard Everett, who now serves on Tendring District Council as an independent, alleged that his former party failed to declare some costs for leaflets, banners and even utility bills in his submission to Metropolitan Police.
The campaign material, he alleges, featured Farage’s name and picture as well as list of his policies.
He has also accused Farage of failing to declare the costs of hiring an armoured Land Rover in which the party leader toured the constituency while leaning out of a hatch on July 3, 2024, the day before the country went to the polls.
Reform said it had spent £20,299.80 in the constituency, but Everett said he believed the figure to be inaccurate as it left out several outgoings.
He told the Telegraph: ‘I do not think that that is an accurate figure. In fact, I think the £20,660 was exceeded, and the reason why I think that is because of a number of items that were either missing on the return or wrong on the return.’
Farage was elected as an MP for the first time last year, after previously contesting elections under the UKIP banner.
Political parties have legal spending limits during elections, both at a national and local level.
While such offences are usually subject to a one-year statute, police forces can apply to extend the deadline under certain circumstances.
Has anything like this happened before?
Election campaigns have previously come under fire for failing to comply with rules, such as when then Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay was accused of overspending by £60,000.
He was incidentally contesting the seat of Thanet South in Kent against Farage, then leader of UKIP.
A Tory party official was eventually convicted and handed a suspended sentence, however Mackinlay himself was cleared of all charges.
Both Farage and his election agent Peter Harris could be found personally liable if the allegations are proven.
Reform UK denied it hadn’t complied with electoral law.
A spokesman for the party said: ‘These inaccurate claims come from a disgruntled former councillor. The party was disgusted by his inappropriate sexual behaviour with women, and he was expelled several months ago.
‘The party denies breaking electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name.’
What happens if you break electoral law?
The law on spending during elections and other campaigns like referendums is enforced by the Electoral Commission and the police.
Fines of up to £20,000 can be imposed if the Commission investigates and has a reasonable grounds to suspect an offence.
The latest allegations come as Farage himself has launched a legal challenge against Labour’s decision to postpone some local elections next year.
Delayed polls include an upcoming election for Essex’s mayor, in which Harris was due to stand as Reform’s candidate.
Farage has also been at the centre of a debate around his school days at Dulwich College, with 28 former classmates having now come forward alleging he personally abused them with racist language.
Among them is Jewish film director Peter Ettedgui who has maintained that Farage targeted him with abuse for his faith, declaring that ‘Hitler was right’ and making hissing noises to simulate the sound of gas.
Farage has denied all allegations and insists he ‘never really tried to go and hurt anybody’.
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