Reform UK accused of fabricating evidence to ICO

Reform UK is under investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a potential breach of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), following a complaint by a voter, Charles Parkinson, who received unsolicited communications from the party. The investigation centres on Parkinson’s accusation that the party fabricated evidence to mislead the watchdog.

Parkinson submitted a subject access request (SAR) on 27 March 2025. After receiving no response, he complained to the ICO in June. The ICO later forwarded a document to Parkinson from Reform UK, claiming that it was an attempted email response to him that the party had been unable to deliver. However, the supposed email was dated 1 March 2025, several weeks before Parkinson had even made his initial request. 

Reform UK's data protection officer (DPO) denied providing fabricated evidence, calling the allegation "egregious and utterly ridiculous." The DPO claimed the incorrect date was "a case of cock up and not conspiracy," but accepted the party missed the legal deadline for responding. The DPO also suggested that the original SAR was abusive, citing Parkinson's email, which described Reform UK as a "racist bigoted party." The DPO further claimed that because the unsolicited communication was an electoral address sent via Freepost, it did not constitute direct marketing, meaning they held no personal data on Parkinson. Reform UK has since appointed a new DPO and team to improve its SAR processes. The ICO confirmed it is assessing the complaint but declined to comment.

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