Infighting in the Reform UK party in Devon has seen two county councillors and an election agent reported to police by a colleague over election expenses. Neil Stevens and his brother Tony were elected for Reform in May and documents allege Neil Stevens spent about £170 more than the campaign spending limit. This was reported to police by Ed Hill, who was also elected for Reform in May and was the chairman of the Exeter branch but was removed from the post for bringing it “into disrepute”.
Neil Stevens won the Alphington and Cowick seat with 1,126 votes, but his election expenditure return papers show he spent £1,995.72, exceeding the limit of £1,827.04. Hill alleges that a £250 podcast recording expense claimed by Tony Stevens should be split equally between the brothers, further raising Neil Stevens’ expenditure.
Hill reported his concerns to the police and the Electoral Commission on 1 June, saying he had made “a clear promise to the people of Exeter” to “hold our candidates and councillors to the same high standards we expect of others”. The national Reform UK party removed Hill as chairman of Reform UK Exeter after bringing the party into disrepute and is currently investigating the matter.
Neil Stevens believed the spending limit only related to the money he had personally contributed to his campaign, but the Electoral Commission said the limit applies to all spending during the regulated period, including personal money spent and donations received. Exceeding limits on candidate expenses can lead to an unlimited fine, while making a false declaration attracts the same punishment and/or up to six months in prison.
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