Reform told councillors to describe the donations investigation as a “smear” and a “hit job”.
A leaked internal Reform UK briefing instructed councillors to characterise the police investigation into donations linked to Fiona Cottrell as a “smear” and a “hit job”, framing the investigation and media coverage as politically motivated attacks on the party.
Attributed to Nigel Farage
Source: The Times (23 July 2026)