Reform UK faces donation, race and council controversies as poll lead slips
The gist
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won a by-election after resigning his seat amid a £5 million gift investigation.
Donation scandals and falling polls have made a Reform premiership look less certain.
How it unfolded
- Apr 2, 2026Simon Dudley, a Conservative defector and former head of Homes England, was sacked as Reform's housing spokesperson amid a run of party controversies.
- May 12, 2026More than 30 scandal-hit Reform candidates were elected in local elections the previous week.
- May 2026Farage and Reform UK held a ten-point lead in national polls.