Too late to investigate Farage election expenses, Essex Police say

It is too late to investigate whether Nigel Farage broke election law on spending at the general election, Essex Police has said.

The Reform UK leader had been referred to the police following claims by a former member of his campaign team that the campaign to get Mr Farage elected in Clacton last year overspent. There are tight rules on campaign spending in the UK, including separating what is spent as part of a national campaign and what is spent directly in a constituency.

However, there is a one-year statutory time limit to begin any investigation, which Essex Police said has now elapsed. The force said: "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." Read more:Farage's ex-school mate on claims of racist commentsReform get record £9m donation from ex-Tory donor The allegations of overspending on Mr Farage's campaign were first reported at the start of last week, with Richard Everett - also a former Reform councillor - claiming he had passed information to the Metropolitan Police. Reform was quick to deny the allegations, and accused Mr Everett of being a "disgruntled former councillor" who was expelled from the party "several months ago".

The overspending reportedly included failing to declare spending on leaflets, banners, utility bills and the refurbishment of a bar in its Clacton campaign office - although Mr Everett said Mr Farage was "blissfully unaware" as others managed the finances. Labour Party chair Anna Turley had also written to the Electoral Commission about the claims.

Responding yesterday, the elections watchdog said: "We have responded to Anna Turley MP's correspondence, which raised questions about Reform UK's spending at the 2024 general election. "After carefully considering the information presented in the letter, we 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.".