Farage reported to police for ‘failing to declare armoured Land Rover and Reform themed bar’ in Clacton campaign

Nigel Farage has been reported to police for allegedly breaching electoral law.

The Reform UK leader has been accused by a former party member of failing to declare some expenses during his campaign last year that may have taken him over election spending limits.

Mr Farage, who is the MP for Clacton, spent just £400 shy of the statutory spending limit of £20,660 in the Essex constituency.

But he is now facing allegations that he declined to declare several expenses, including for the loan of an armoured Land Rover and a Reform-themed bar in his campaign office.

Councillor Richard Everett, who now serves on Tendring District Council as an independent, has also alleged that his former party failed to declare some costs for leaflets, banners and even utility bills in his submission to Metropolitan Police.

The campaign material, he alleges, featured Mr Farage’s name and picture as well as list of his policies.

He has also accused Mr Farage of failing to declare the costs of hiring an armoured Land Rover in which the party leader toured the constituency while leaning out of a hatch on July 3, 2024, the day before the country went to the polls.

Reform said it had spent £20,299.80 in the constituency, but Mr Everett said he believed the figure to be inaccurate as it left out several outgoings.

He told the Telegraph: ‘I do not think that that is an accurate figure. In fact, I think the £20,660 was exceeded, and the reason why I think that is because of a number of items that were either missing on the return or wrong on the return.’

Mr Farage was elected as an MP for the first time last year, after previously contesting elections under the UKIP banner.

Political parties have legal spending limits during elections, both at a national and local level.

While such offences are usually subject to a one-year statute, police forces can apply to extend the deadline under certain circumstances.

Election campaigns have previously come under fire for failing to comply with rules, such as when then Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay was accused of overspending by £60,000.

He was incidentally contesting the seat of Thanet South in Kent against Mr Farage, then leader of UKIP.

A Tory party official was eventually convicted and handed a suspended sentence, however Mr Mackinlay himself was cleared of all charges.

Both Mr Farage and his election agent Peter Harris could be found personally liable if the allegations are proven.

Reform UK denied it hadn’t complied with electoral law.

A spokesman for the party said: ‘These inaccurate claims come from a disgruntled former councillor. The party was disgusted by his inappropriate sexual behaviour with women, and he was expelled several months ago.

‘The party denies breaking electoral law. We look forward to clearing our name.’

The latest allegations come as Mr Farage himself has launched a legal challenge against Labour’s decision to postpone some local elections next year.

Delayed polls include an upcoming election for Essex’s mayor, in which Mr Harris was due to stand as Reform’s candidate.

Mr Farage has also been at the centre of a debate around his school days at Dulwich College, with 28 former classmates having now come forward alleging he personally abused them with racist language.

Among them is Jewish film director Peter Ettedgui who has maintained that Mr Farage targeted him with abuse for his faith, declaring that ‘Hitler was right’ and making hissing noises to simulate the sound of gas.

Mr Farage has denied all allegations and insists he ‘never really tried to go and hurt anybody’.

Metro has approached Met Police for comment.

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