Nigel Farage avoids police probe into election spending
Nigel Farage will avoid an investigation into election spending after police said there could be no investigation.
Reform UK allegedly overspent on Farage’s general election campaign in Clacton, Essex, last year.
Claims lodged with the Metropolitan Police by former Reform councilor Richard Everett allege the party exceeded the £20,660 spending limit in the Essex constituency.
However, Essex Police confirmed in its assessment that the report fell outside the one-year legal time limit, meaning “no investigation could take place”.
In a statement Guard, Essex Police said: “We have dealt with a report regarding alleged misreporting of a political candidate’s expenses in connection with the general election in July 2024.”
The newspaper stated that the report was prepared on December 5.
Police said: “Given the Representation of the People Act 1983 which states that any investigation into such an offense must be commenced within one year, it has been concluded that this report falls outside the stated statutory time limit and no investigation can be undertaken.”
Reform has previously vehemently denied breaching election spending legislation and accused Mr Everett of being a “disgruntled former councillor” who was expelled from the party “a few months ago”.
According to previous reports Daily TelegraphMr Everett claims Reform failed to declare expenses on leaflets, banners, utility bills and the refurbishment of a bar at its Clacton campaign office.
The party claims in its official manifesto that this falls just £400 below the spending limit set by electoral law, and that undeclared spending would rise above that limit.
But he also said he thought Mr Farage himself was “blissfully unaware”.
Labor leader Anna Turley previously said: “Nigel Farage needs to reassure the public that he and his party will co-operate fully with the police and put on the table all the evidence they need.
“Electoral fraud is a very serious crime that fundamentally undermines our democracy.
“All parliamentarians, including party leaders, must play by the rules so that all candidates receive a fair public hearing.
“Nigel Farage needs to break his silence on this issue and show that he and Reform UK have always followed the law. Failure to do so will raise further questions about what he has to hide.”
An Electoral Commission spokesman said on Thursday: “We have responded to correspondence from Anna Turley MP raising questions about Reform UK’s spending in the 2024 general election.
“Having carefully considered the information presented in the letter, we have not identified any expenditure relating to Mr Farage’s election campaign in Clacton that should be declared among Reform UK’s national expenditure.”
Mr Everett, who switched from the Conservatives to Reform last year, has since left the party and now serves as an Independent councillor.
A Reform spokesman previously said: “These false allegations come from a disgruntled former councillor. The party denies breaching electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name.”
