No evidence Reform broke electoral law, watchdog says
The Electoral Commission found “no credible evidence of potential electoral law offenses” over Nigel Farage’s election spending.
In a letter to Reform England’s treasurer and shared with the BBC, the watchdog said it would take no further action.
It comes after a former member of Farage’s campaign team He claimed he spent more than Reform’s £20,660 spending limit It is determined by law.
Last week, Essex Police said they would not be investigating the matter as more than a year had passed since the alleged crime.
Nigel Farage’s election agent at Clacton Peter Harris said the complaint was “politically motivated”.
“The facts are clear, the process was properly followed and there is no basis for further allegations, inferences or repetition of these allegations,” Mr Harris added.
In a letter, the commission said it had “not identified any expenditure omissions which require declaration” in Farage’s campaign for the Clacton constituency.
He added: “We have been unable to identify credible evidence of potential electoral law offences.
“Therefore, our decision is to close our assessment of the matter following initial investigations and take no further action.”
Allegations of impropriety against Nigel Farage and his party were made by former Reform campaigner Richard Everett.
He claimed the party had failed to declare expenses on some leaflets, banners, utility bills and the refurbishment of a bar at its Clacton constituency office.
The documents were passed to the Metropolitan Police, who handed the case over to Essex Police.
Earlier this week an Essex Police spokesman said: “Any investigation into such an offense must begin within a year.”
He said the “alleged misreporting of a political candidate’s expenses” was made on December 5 in July 2024.
“It has been concluded that this report is outside the specified legal period and no investigation can be carried out,” the spokesman added.
Farage takes over the leadership of Reform UK in June 2024, around a month before the general election.
He won the seat of Clacton in Essex with a majority of more than 8,000 from the Conservatives.
