Police are investigating allegations that Reform UK violated electoral law during its campaign for Nigel Farage’s Commons seat, raising political concerns.
In response to a former aide's allegations that Reform misreported election expenditures in the Clacton district he represents following his 2024 election victory, political rivals have called on the party's head to "come clean."
Former Reform councillor Richard Everett, who was part of Farage's crusade platoon, allegedly gave police paperwork demonstrating that the party spent further than the £20,660 cap in the Essex area.
Essex police blazoned on Monday that they were probing a claim that a political party, presumably Reform, had misreported spending.
The advertisement coincides with growing pressure on Farage to issue a reason for the racist allegations that 28 of his Dulwich College friends told the Guardian.
Yinka Bankole is the most recent public speaker. He says that a juvenile Farage told him
"that's the way back to Africa"
and that the Reform leader's attempt to "deny or dismiss" the hurt of his purported targets made him feel obligated to speak up. Reporters have been informed by Farage that he has never been "maliciously" racist or antisemitic.
Reform has vehemently denied violating the election expenditure law and referred to Everett as a "disgruntled former councillor" who was kicked out of the party a few months ago.
However, the Conservatives and Labour agreed Farage needed to address the accusations.
Everett has accused Reform of failing to disclose expenditures on banners, flyers, power bills, and the renovation of a bar in its Clacton campaign office, according to the Daily Telegraph. According to the article, he had sent paperwork containing the accusations to the Metropolitan police.
He claims that the party claimed to have spent just £400 lower than the election law's spending ceiling, and that the unreported expenditures would have exceeded the cap. Still, he added that he believed Farage had been" blissfully ignorant."
The Labour chair, Anna Turley, said:
“Nigel Farage needs to reassure the public that he and his party will cooperate fully with the police and put all the evidence they need on the table.
Electoral fraud is a very serious crime which fundamentally undermines our democracy. All parliamentarians, including party leaders, must play by the rules so all candidates have a fair hearing with the public.
Nigel Farage needs to break his silence on this issue and demonstrate that he and Reform UK have followed the law at all times. Failure to do so will raise even more questions about what he has to hide.”
The Conservative chair, Kevin Hollinrake, called on the police and the Electoral Commission to investigate Everett’s claims.
“We all have an obligation to play by the rules to ensure that our elections are free and fair.”
Everett is currently an independent councillor after switching from the Conservatives to Reform last year.
A Reform spokesperson said:
“These inaccurate claims come from a disgruntled former councillor. The party denies breaking electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name.”
It was reported that Everett first made his complaint to the Metropolitan police. On Monday, the force said:
“The Met received an online report on Friday 5 December relating to alleged misreported expenditure by a candidate in connection with the 2024 general election.”
Later the same day, Essex police 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.”
The Met stated that the transfer to the Essex force was "due to the location of the alleged offences," even though neither police force specified a party or a candidate.
What evidence has been submitted to the Metropolitan Police?
Richard Everett submitted substantiation to Essex Police professing Reform UK misreported 9,000 in original crusade charges as public spending during Nigel Farage's Clacton by- election palm, including checks for banners, an office refurbishment, serviceability, and an armoured Land Rover reimbursement to circumvent the£ 11,390 seeker spending limit.
Bills/checks totaling £8,900 for particulars like election signage, office setup, and vehicle hire, claimed as public expenditure despite serving Farage's original crusade. Everett, a former Reform councillor expelled pre-election, handed timelines showing particulars carried post-nomination for Clacton use; he denies grudge motive, citing public interest.
Essex Police verified damage on December 8, 2025, and are assessing for felonious disquisition under the Electoral Administration Act; Reform denies violations, attributing to" pastoral error" and drinking scrutiny, with one- time limitation period nearing expiry.