Defeated Tory and Labour rivals describe force of Reform ‘machine’ as police assess claims of overspending
The Tory and Labour candidates who Nigel Farage beat to win his Westminster seat of Clacton have described a Reform campaign that felt like a “juggernaut”, as police began assessing claims of overspending by the Reform UK leader.
The candidates spoke after a former aide alleged that Reform UK falsely reported election expenses in Clacton, where Farage won in last year’s general election. On Monday, Essex police said they were assessing a report of “alleged misreported expenditure by a political party” after a referral from the Metropolitan police.
Richard Everett, a former Reform UK councillor and member of Farage’s campaign team, has reportedly submitted documents to police showing the party spent more than the £20,660 limit in the Essex constituency.
Everett has claimed Reform failed to declare spending on leaflets, banners, utility bills and the refurbishment of a bar in its Clacton campaign office, according to the Daily Telegraph.
