Reform UK undertook no due diligence on James McMurdock before he was selected as a parliamentary candidate, party leader Nigel Farage has admitted. Mr McMurdock, who won the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat at the last general election with a narrow majority, resigned from the party on Saturday following questions surrounding his business conduct during the pandemic. Speaking to LBC, Mr Farage confirmed: “There was no due diligence on him at all. Zero. I mean, I inherited this.” He added that since the election, the party has “professionalised” its vetting process to prevent such issues from recurring.
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The Sunday Times reported that Mr McMurdock borrowed a total of £70,000 through the Government’s Bounce Back Loan scheme at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. His company, Jam Financial Limited, allegedly received £50,000, while another firm, Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, reportedly secured a £20,000 loan. These sums would require both businesses to have substantial turnovers. However, the reports indicate that Jam Financial had no employees or significant assets at the time, and Gym Live had been dormant until early 2020. Mr McMurdock has insisted that all his business activities complied fully with legal and regulatory standards.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Mr McMurdock said he had voluntarily asked for the whip to be suspended, describing it as a “precautionary measure” and in the interest of protecting Reform UK. He has not ruled out a return to the party, pending internal investigations. The controversy follows earlier revelations about a past conviction for assaulting a former partner, which surfaced shortly after his unexpected win in Essex. Mr Farage has since addressed Reform councillors, urging them to uphold “integrity” while serving, although he cautioned against becoming “stuffed shirts”.
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Mr McMurdock is now the second MP to leave the party since the 2024 general election. In March, Reform expelled Rupert Lowe over accusations of workplace bullying and threats against the then-chairman Zia Yusuf—claims Mr Lowe strongly denied. Though referred to the police, the Crown Prosecution Service concluded no charges would be brought. Mr Yusuf had also briefly resigned last month, citing exhaustion, before returning to the role just two days later. As the party continues its efforts to professionalise, questions persist about whether its internal structures are robust enough to support sustained growth and public trust.
