The Electoral Commission has confirmed it is looking at claims Nigel Farage’s campaign spent more than the £20,660 legal limit to get the Reform leader elected in Clacton
13:17, 17 Dec 2025
A former campaign worker has claimed Reform spent £9,000 more than it was allowed to get Nigel Farage elected – which it denies(Image: Lesley Martin / AFP via Getty Images)
Reform UK could face a second probe into allegations of overspending during Nigel Farage’s general election campaign.
Watchdog the Electoral Commission says it is assessing “any potential failures to comply” with the law. It comes after Essex Police said it was looking at claims relating to the campaign to get Mr Farage elected in Clacton last year.
Whistleblower Richard Everett – who worked alongside the Reform leader – alleges the party spent £9,000 more than it was permitted. But he told the Telegraph that Mr Farage was “blissfully unaware” of the omissions. Labour has accused Mr Farage of “treating the British people with contempt” by remaining silent on the allegations.
Labour chairwoman Anna Turley said: “These allegations can’t keep going unanswered. Nigel Farage is treating the British people with contempt by staying silent – he needs to urgently come out of hiding on this.
READ MORE: Major update on UK’s ‘one-in-one-out’ migrant deal with FranceREAD MORE: ‘Momentous day’ as NHS ramps up support for domestic and sex abuse victimsLabour’s Anna Turley has hit out at Nigel Farage(Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis)
“His constituents and the wider public deserve to be reassured that neither he nor his party have broken the law. Whether it’s his refusal to investigate pro-Russian links in his party, his inability to act on blatantly racist comments made by senior Reform politicians, or his silence on allegations of breaking electoral law, he’s proving that he and his party are unfit for high office.”
In a letter to Ms Turley, seen by The Telegraph, the Commission’s chief executive, Vijay Rangarajan, said: “The commission is… considering your letter and assessing other information in accordance with our enforcement policy to determine if there are any potential failures to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.”
The watchdog has yet to decide whether to launch a full investigation. The Electoral Commission is responsible for regulating the finances of parties and campaigners. Police are responsible for investigating spending by individual candidates.
Mr Everett claims Reform did not report £9,000 of spending on leaflets, banners, rosettes and refurbishing an office bar. Had it done so, it would have taken Mr Farage’s campaign over the £20,660 spending limit required by law. He has handed documents to police.
Reform has dismissed Mr Everett as a “disgruntled former councillor”- claiming he was expelled from the party earlier this year over allegations about his conduct. Mr Everett denies the claims.
A party spokesman said: “The party denies breaking electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name.”
Last week the Met referred the incident to the force in Essex. Essex Police said they were “assessing a report relating to alleged misreported expenditure by a political party”.
The Tories have called on police and the Electoral Commission to investigate Mr Everett’s claims. Chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “We all have an obligation to play by the rules to ensure that our elections are free and fair.”
