Reform UK councillors told to dismiss donations inquiry as ‘establishment stitch-up’

Reform UK has instructed its newly elected councillors to frame an ongoing inquiry into the party’s donation practices as an “establishment stitch-up,” according to internal guidance seen by The Guardian. The directive, issued to Reform representatives across multiple local authorities, tells members to push back hard against any scrutiny of the party’s finances by casting it as politically motivated interference.

What the guidance says

The internal briefing, circulated in recent days, reportedly tells councillors to use consistent language when speaking to the press or constituents about the donations investigation. It’s a classic message discipline exercise — but the specific framing is striking. Party members are being told not to engage with the substance of the inquiry at all. Instead, they should redirect attention to what the document reportedly describes as a coordinated effort by entrenched political forces to undermine Reform’s rise.

The guidance is said to run to several pages and includes suggested responses to common questions. It names no specific opponents but refers broadly to “legacy parties” and “sympathetic media” as drivers of the investigation.

The inquiry itself

The donations probe centres on questions about the sources and declaration of funds received by Reform UK ahead of and during the May 2025 local elections, in which the party made significant gains, winning control of 10 councils and returning over 600 councillors across England. The Electoral Commission confirmed last month it had opened a formal review. That review is still at an early stage, and no findings have been published.

Reform did not deny the existence of the internal guidance when approached for comment. A party spokesperson said: “Reform UK is confident that all donations were received and declared in full compliance with electoral law. Any suggestion otherwise is politically motivated.”

Critics say the framing is dangerous

But critics argue that instructing elected representatives to dismiss a regulatory inquiry rather than cooperate with it sets a troubling precedent. It’s one thing to contest findings. It’s another to pre-emptively delegitimise an investigation before it has concluded.

At least three Reform councillors, speaking anonymously, told journalists they were uncomfortable with the messaging and felt it put them in a difficult position at a time when they’re still trying to establish credibility in their new roles.

Still, not everyone in the party seems troubled. Several senior figures have already taken to social media to repeat the “stitch-up” line verbatim, suggesting the guidance is being followed closely at the top.

What comes next

The Electoral Commission is expected to publish a preliminary update on its review within the next six to eight weeks. Depending on what it finds, the inquiry could escalate or be closed without further action.

For Reform, the stakes are high. The party won’t want anything threatening the momentum it built in May. But how its councillors handle this — whether they cooperate with regulators or dig in — could define the party’s credibility as a serious governing force for years to come.