The Reform UK leader had been in hot water over allegations he overspent during last year’s election.
Nigel Farage has been cleared by Essex Police over allegations he broke election spending limits during his fight to enter Parliament last year. The Reform UK chief had fiercely denied any wrongdoing, which was first reported by a whistleblower a fortnight ago.
Richard Everett, a former Reform councillor, claimed to have submitted documents showing Mr Farage failed to declare various costs in his election spending returns. These included an armoured Land Rover, totalling around £9,000 worth of unaccounted costs. The investigation was leapt on by the Labour Party, with chairman Anna Turley calling on Nigel Farage to “come out of hiding” and explain whether he had spent more than the £20,660 limit.
Mr Farage’s spending returns said he had fallen £400 shy of the limit. (Image: Getty)
However, last night, Mr Farage’s opponents were crushed to learn Essex Police would not be taking the investigation forward.
The force stated that this was due to a one-year statute of limitations on any breach of electoral rules, which expired on July 4 this year.
A spokesman explained: “We have assessed a report relating to an allegation around misreported expenditure by a political candidate in connection with the General Election in July 2024.
“Having regard to the Representation of the People Act 1983, which states any prosecution for such an offence must commence within one year, it has been concluded that this report falls outside of the stated statutory time limit, and no investigation can take place.”
The Electoral Commission added that they had responded to Labour’s Anna Turley, adding that after “careful consideration”, they had failed to identify “any expenditure relating to Mr Farage’s election campaign in Clacton that should have been declared in Reform UK’s national expenditure.”
Labour’s Anna Turley had demanded a full investigation (Image: Getty)
A spokesman for Reform UK has yet to comment on the news.
However, they previously denied any wrongdoing on Mr Farage’s behalf and accused the initial whistleblower of holding a grudge.
The spokesman described Mr Everett as a “disgruntled former councillor”, and claimed he had been expelled from the party in August over alleged sexually inappropriate behaviour in the office.
The allegation related to a complaint that he had stored sex toys in his desk drawer in the Clacton campaign office.
Mr Everett strenuously denied the allegations.
