Nigel Farage has evaded a police investigation into allegations that his general election campaign broke spending rules, with authorities citing a statutory time limit as the barrier to prosecution.
Police Cite Time Bar as Investigation Halted
Essex Police confirmed they had assessed a report, filed on 5 December 2024, concerning potential misreported expenditure by a political candidate during the July 2024 general election. The force stated that, under the Representation of the People Act 1983, any prosecution for such an offence must begin within one year of the alleged event.
"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. This decision effectively shields the Reform UK leader from a criminal probe into the claims surrounding his campaign in Clacton-on-Sea.
Electoral Commission Scrutiny and Whistleblower Allegations
Despite the police stepping back, the controversy is far from over. The Electoral Commission, the independent watchdog overseeing elections, has announced it is conducting its own assessment of the allegations. This could still lead to sanctions against Reform UK.
The claims originated from a whistleblower who spoke to the Daily Telegraph, alleging that the party failed to properly declare a range of campaign expenses. These reportedly included costs for leaflets, banners, utility bills, and the refurbishment of a bar used as the Clacton campaign office. The legal spending limit for a candidate in the constituency was £20,660.
In a letter to the Electoral Commission, Labour Party chair Anna Turley demanded Farage explain the discrepancies. She warned that if local spending was wrongly reported as national expenditure, or if costs were omitted entirely, it risked rendering the party's national spending return "inaccurate or incomplete." Turley accused Farage of "treating the British people with contempt by staying silent" and urged him to "urgently come out of hiding" on the issue.
Reform's Defence and Mounting Pressures
A spokesperson for Reform UK has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating, "The party denies breaking electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name." They dismissed the whistleblower, who was identified as a former councillor who defected from the Conservatives, as a "disgruntled" individual.
This electoral spending row adds to a series of crises confronting Farage. He continues to face allegations of racist behaviour during his schooldays at Dulwich College, claims he has labelled politically motivated. Recently, 28 of his former school peers publicly condemned him for not acknowledging his past conduct.
Furthermore, Farage is under pressure to dismiss a Reform mayoral candidate who told Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who is British, to "go home" to the Caribbean. Reform has characterised the barrage of allegations as a "witch-hunt" and a desperate attempt by the left-wing media and Labour to discredit the party.
While the police time limit has provided a temporary reprieve, the ongoing Electoral Commission assessment ensures that questions over campaign finance in Clacton will continue to dog Nigel Farage and his party.
