Essex Police have stated it is now too late to launch a formal investigation into allegations that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage breached election spending rules during last year's general election campaign.
The Statutory Time Limit Barrier
The force confirmed it had assessed a report concerning alleged misreported expenditure by a political candidate in connection with the July 2024 poll. However, officers cited the Representation of the People Act 1983, which mandates that any prosecution for such an offence must commence within one year of the alleged violation.
"Having regard to the Representation of the People Act 1983... it has been concluded that this report falls outside of the stated statutory time limit, and no investigation can take place," a police statement said.
Origin of the Spending Allegations
The claims were first reported at the start of last week, originating from Richard Everett, a former member of Mr Farage's campaign team and an ex-Reform UK councillor. Mr Everett stated he had passed information to the Metropolitan Police.
He alleged that the campaign to elect Mr Farage in the Clacton constituency overspent by failing to properly declare costs for items including:
- Campaign leaflets and banners
- Utility bills
- The refurbishment of a bar within the Clacton campaign office
Mr Everett reportedly said Mr Farage was "blissfully unaware" of the financial management, which he claimed was handled by others.
Reform UK's Response and Political Reaction
Reform UK was quick to deny the allegations robustly. The party characterised Mr Everett as a "disgruntled former councillor" who had been expelled from the party several months prior to making the claims.
The matter also reached the desk of the elections watchdog. Labour Party chair Anna Turley MP wrote to the Electoral Commission regarding the allegations. In a response, the Commission stated that after careful consideration of the information in the letter, it "did not identify any expenditure relating to Mr Farage's election campaign in Clacton that should have been declared in Reform UK's national expenditure."
The episode highlights the strict and complex rules governing UK election finance, which require clear separation between national campaign spending and money spent directly in a constituency.
