Reform UK has found itself in hot water after it emerged that the party had been offering paid tours of Parliament to its supporters, potentially breaching House of Commons rules.

Nigel Farage’s party emailed activists an invitation to purchase access to a tour led by an MP for up to £300, part of a broader fundraising effort.

The controversy arises due to the strict regulations governing MPs, which explicitly forbid offering access to Parliament in exchange for payment.

Reform UK’s actions echo a previous case in 2020 when Caroline Lucas, the former Green Party MP, violated similar rules by providing a tour of the Commons for a £150 donation to a fundraising campaign. Lucas swiftly apologized, calling the breach “completely unintentional”, and returned the funds.

Once aware of the issue, Reform UK moved to offer refunds to supporters who had already purchased the tickets. A spokesperson for the party explained: “This event was set up without our knowledge by the local branch [which] did not know the rules. Ticket holders are being offered a refund. Reform UK takes the rules of parliament incredibly seriously.”

The offer had also included an invite to a Christmas party at a central London bar and nightclub, with an optional MP-led tour of Parliament as part of the package.

Teething Troubles for Reform UK

This apparent violation is just one of several challenges facing Reform UK as it undergoes a significant restructuring. The right-wing party, previously led by Farage, seeks to formalize its political operations and has promised to improve its structure in the long term.

Farage, who has now relinquished control of the party, stated that he is placing ownership in the hands of its members.

Reform UK garnered a respectable 14% share of the vote in July’s general election, securing five MPs in Parliament. Despite these gains, the party has been criticized for some candidates’ racially or xenophobically charged comments on social media during the campaign.

Farage pledged to “professionalize” the party in response, seeking to position Reform UK as a serious contender for the official opposition in the 2029 elections.

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s chairman, emphasized that the ongoing changes within the party are aimed at ensuring its longevity. He stressed that the reforms are not just a short-term fix but are intended to equip the party for the future.

In a recent interview, Nigel Farage acknowledged that when he set up Reform UK Limited, the press had mocked his financial ownership of the party. However, Farage explained that his decision was necessary for rapid decision-making during the party’s early stages.

He added, “The real reason was to prevent a small, nascent political party being taken over by malign actors, and that was my really big fear, but we’ve moved on.”

While Reform UK works to resolve this latest issue with parliamentary rules, the party’s leadership remains focused on its broader goal of becoming a significant political force in the UK. The incident, though embarrassing, is unlikely to halt its ambitions as it moves to professionalize and build for the future.