Reform MP Lee Anderson Faces Fresh Scrutiny Over Paid Cameo Videos Filmed in Parliament
The Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has used his parliamentary office to record paid-for personalised messaging videos, in a potential breach of strict rules that prohibit the commercial use of the Palace of Westminster. This development comes as Anderson's party leader, Nigel Farage, faces separate scrutiny over his own controversial activities on the Cameo platform.
Valentine's Day Messages from the Heart of Democracy
Anderson sold two videos filmed from what he described as the "beating heart of democracy in Westminster" in early February 2025. Both were Valentine's Day messages sold for £45 and £56 respectively via the video messaging app Cameo, which enables members of the public to commission short clips from celebrities and public figures.
In the first clip, Anderson sends Valentine's Day wishes to "Steve", a Reform voter and member, while standing in his parliamentary office. "Make sure you treat the missus to something really nice and hopefully get you down here to Westminster one day and come and say hello to Reform UK. Have a good one, fella," he adds enthusiastically.
The second clip, filmed as the Commons adjourned, features Anderson telling "Scotty" to "get your act together" for Valentine's Day. "The flowers that you sent her last year, I've been told you got them from the local cemetery on the way back from the pub after you had one too many," he said humorously. "She doesn't want flowers, mate. She wants a cruise. Sort yourself out, you pathetic man. All the best."
Previous Breaches and Fresh Violations
This is not the first time Anderson has faced allegations of breaching parliamentary rules regarding commercial activities. The Reform MP was previously found in breach of these regulations after he recorded a promotional clip for his GB News programme from the roof of the House of Commons. Following the finding against him by the standards commissioner in September 2023, Anderson apologised for breaching the MPs' code of conduct and promised he would not create commercial videos on the parliamentary estate again.
Despite this previous commitment, Anderson, who serves as chief whip of Reform's eight MPs, now faces fresh scrutiny over the two videos unearthed by the Guardian that he filmed on 12 February 2025. A spokesperson for Anderson stated that he donated all money received from Cameo to charity, specifically mentioning a male suicide charity as the beneficiary.
Additional Controversial Offers
In six other videos, filmed in locations other than Westminster, Anderson offers tours of the Houses of Parliament for the recipients of the paid-for clips. He told them if they were ever in London to "come and see me" and he would show them around the parliamentary estate and go for "a few pints together".
These videos risk further breaches of MPs' rules, as parliamentary regulations clearly state that it is not permitted to offer tours of parliament as "a prize or reward for fundraising or for any other kind of benefit". The rules are designed to prevent the commercial exploitation of parliamentary facilities and maintain the integrity of the institution.
Farage's Controversial Cameo Activities
Anderson joined his party leader, Nigel Farage, on Cameo in July 2024, just two days after he was elected as a Reform MP. Farage's use of the platform has come under intense scrutiny after a Guardian investigation revealed he had recorded videos supporting a rioter, repeating far-right slogans, and endorsing a neo-Nazi event.
Farage, who has made at least £374,893 from the platform in the last five years, also sold videos that contained misogynistic remarks and references to antisemitic conspiracy theories. A spokesperson for Farage stated that his Cameo videos should "not be treated as political statements or campaign activity", adding that he had recorded thousands of videos and "at that scale, the occasional mistake can occur".
Comparative Platform Presence
Compared with Farage, Anderson represents a far less in-demand – and somewhat cheaper – figure on the platform. The Guardian investigation found only 22 public videos produced by Anderson, compared with 1,794 from Farage over the same period. However, the significance lies in the location of Anderson's filming rather than the volume of his output.
The fact that two of Anderson's videos were filmed from his taxpayer-funded parliamentary office represents the core of the potential breach, as parliamentary rules explicitly prohibit the commercial use of the Palace of Westminster. This raises questions about whether Anderson's previous apology and commitment to avoid commercial filming in parliament have been honoured.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between MPs' personal commercial activities and their parliamentary responsibilities, particularly for members of newer political parties like Reform UK who may be exploring alternative revenue streams while serving in public office.
