Enforces UK electoral law, probes donations, regulates political finance and conduct in elections.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating a 7,5000 donation to Robert Jenrick’s leadership campaign to Conservative leader in 2024 after a referral from the Electoral Commission. The funds were routed via Spott Fitness and may originate from a foreign source. Jenrick has rejected the claims as false and says he fully cooperated with authorities.
Aaron Taylor, a Reform UK supporter and candidate, has shared posts endorsing Hitler and denying the Holocaust. He has apologized after being confronted. The party has been scrutinized over its handling of the incident amid ongoing electoral rule reviews.
The UK Electoral Commission has announced a pilot program to monitor and identify AI-generated deepfakes ahead of the May 7 local elections. The initiative aims to prevent misleading content from influencing voters, as deepfake technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible. The scheme will track impact and work with parties to remove false material, sharing findings post-election.
Nigel Farage is under formal investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, reported as having supported his personal security before the 2024 election. Reform UK says the gift was personal and not subject to declaration; Labour and other parties dispute this. The outcome could trigger a recall petition if a serious breach is found.
Britain has unveiled rules to limit overseas political donations for a year after arrival and tightens checks on company donations. The measures, part of amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, aim to curb foreign influence and ensure funding comes from legitimate UK-linked sources.