Nigel Farage is facing renewed scrutiny over his election campaign in Clacton after a former aide claimed Reform UK exceeded legal spending limits during his bid to enter Parliament. The allegations have prompted calls from Labour and the Conservatives for the Reform UK leader to fully address the accusations as pressure continues to mount on him over separate claims of racism dating back to his school years.
Richard Everett, a former Reform UK councillor who worked on Farage’s campaign, has reportedly provided Scotland Yard with documents suggesting the party overspent during the 2024 general election. According to Everett, Reform UK exceeded the £20,660 spending cap for the Essex constituency, while officially declaring that its expenses were just £400 below the legal limit.
Everett alleges the party failed to report thousands of pounds spent on campaign materials, including leaflets, banners, utility costs, and refurbishment work at a Clacton campaign office bar. He maintains that the undeclared expenditure would place the party above the statutory threshold, although he said he believes Farage was “blissfully unaware” of the details.
Reform UK Rejects Accusations
Reform UK has dismissed the allegations as “inaccurate,” claiming they come from a “disgruntled former councillor” expelled months earlier. A party spokesperson insisted Reform operated within the law and said it looked forward to clearing its name through any investigation.
Everett, who defected from the Conservatives before joining Reform, has since left the party entirely and now sits as an Independent councillor.
Political Pressure Intensifies
The Labour chair, Anna Turley, urged Farage to “come clean” about the campaign’s finances, saying transparency was essential to protect public trust in the electoral system. She warned that failing to address the claims would only deepen suspicion.
Conservative chair Kevin Hollinrake echoed calls for an investigation, urging both the Electoral Commission and police to look into the evidence submitted by Everett. He said all political parties must adhere to strict rules to ensure elections remain fair.
Racism Row Adds to Public Pressure
The spending allegations emerge as Farage continues to face backlash from 28 former classmates at Dulwich College who have described his behaviour as racist during their teenage years. The latest to speak publicly, Yinka Bankole, said he felt compelled to come forward after Farage’s attempts to dismiss or deny the accounts. Farage has strongly rejected the characterisations, insisting he has never acted with racist or antisemitic “malice.”
The developments come at a sensitive time for Reform UK, which has been seeking to strengthen its parliamentary presence following its electoral breakthrough last year. Farage’s win in Clacton marked the first time the party secured a Commons seat, giving him a national platform that placed Reform’s internal governance, spending, and messaging under sharper scrutiny. Any investigation into campaign finances could complicate the party’s efforts to position itself as a credible challenger to Labour and the Conservatives ahead of future elections.
