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Farage threatens vetting company with legal action

(Photo by Jonathan Hordle/ITV via Getty Images)

Uh oh. After multiple reports of controversial candidates, Reform UK boss Nigel Farage has announced that he is threatening a vetting firm with legal action. The party leader has accused the company, Vetting.com, of ‘stitching up’ Reform UK. Golly…

In April, the Farage-founded party signed a £144,000 contract with Vetting.com on the agreement the firm would flag up unsuitable parliamentary candidates with extreme views. The vetting company is owned by Sphinx Technology Ltd – which is in turn co-owned by Colin Bloom, an ex-Tory adviser who worked under Boris Johnson and who was made a CBE by the former Conservative party leader last year. Reform was assured at the time that despite Bloom’s background there would be no conflict of interest in Vetting.com working for Farage’s group. But as Mr S wrote on Monday, Nige now insists that his party has been ‘let down’ by the organisation.

After the nomination deadline passed, a number of Reform candidates have come under scrutiny for past remarks — including Ian

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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