Police probe Reform UK candidates over alleged election spending breaches

Police Scotland has received information and is examining possible breaches of election-spending regulations by Reform UK candidates in the recent Scottish Parliament vote. Four candidates did not submit returns on campaign expenditures and donations, while five submitted returns that lacked proper sign-off. Reform UK described the omissions as administrative errors by a fledgling party and said each individual regrets the oversight and has now provided the missing data.

The party, led in Scotland by Lord Malcolm Offord, tied with Labour for second place, each winning 17 seats, and none of the candidates under investigation were elected. This inquiry follows a Metropolitan Police criminal probe into foreign-donation claims and one outlet undercover investigation that revealed racist and sexist comments from party members. Reform UK has said it has tightened vetting procedures but acknowledges that some individuals may still slip through.