Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under mounting pressure to address serious allegations of election overspending in his Clacton constituency campaign, with Labour demanding an urgent investigation by the elections watchdog.
Labour Demands Electoral Commission Investigation
Labour Party chair Anna Turley has formally written to the Electoral Commission, calling for a probe into whether Farage's campaign breached the legal spending limit of £20,660. The request follows explosive claims from a whistleblower that the campaign failed to declare thousands of pounds in expenditure.
Turley accused Farage of treating the public with contempt by remaining silent and demanded he "urgently come out of hiding" to explain the allegations. In her letter, she warned there was a "real risk" that Reform's national spending return could be inaccurate if local expenses were improperly recorded.
Whistleblower Alleges £9,000 Undeclared Spending
The allegations centre on claims made by Richard Everett, a former Reform councillor and member of Farage's campaign team. Everett told the Daily Telegraph that the campaign's official return came just £400 under the legal cap, but undeclared spending of approximately £9,000 would have pushed it significantly over the limit.
The alleged undeclared items include:
- Campaign leaflets and banners
- Utility bills for the campaign office
- Refurbishment costs for a bar within the Clacton office
Reform UK has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. A party spokesperson stated: "The party denies breaking electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name." The spokesperson characterised Everett as a "disgruntled former councillor". Everett, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform last year, now sits as an independent.
Police Assessments and Watchdog Scrutiny
The Electoral Commission confirmed it is "considering" Labour's letter and "assessing other information" to determine if there were breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. This marks a potential second investigation into Farage's campaign finances.
Simultaneously, police forces are examining the claims. The Metropolitan Police received an initial online report on 5 December regarding alleged misreported election expenditure. The case was subsequently transferred to Essex Police due to the location of the alleged offences. Both forces are currently in an assessment phase.
The unfolding controversy places significant scrutiny on Reform UK's financial compliance during the hotly contested general election campaign. With the Electoral Commission and police now involved, the pressure on Nigel Farage to provide a detailed public account of his campaign's spending is intensifying.
