Nigel Farage has reported an anti-Reform leaflet to a charity watchdog over its content allegedly trumpeting a "pro-Labour message".
As the heated Makerfield by-election campaign rumbles on, the party leader sounded the alarm after constituents received literature from Hope Not Hate (HNH) explicitly backing Andy Burnham.
In the footer, the leaflet also pleads with locals to "join the fightback against Reform" by scanning a QR code which, Mr Farage declared, is party political.
The Clacton MP warned the content "attempts to influence voters' decisions", adding its tone and content is "clearly directed towards persuading the reader" to rally behind specific candidates.
The Reform chief has now referred the matter to the Charity Commission after raising concerns that the body breached both regulatory obligations "indirectly" via HNH's alleged political activity.
A Charity Commission spokesman confirmed with GB News the department was "currently assessing concerns relating to Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust to determine if there is any role for the Commission as charity regulator".
The rules imposed throughout elections and referenda allow a charity's publicity material to promote its views as long as they "relate to its purposes and activities".
However, the group must refrain from "explicitly comparing its views (favourably or ortherwise) with those of the political parties or candidates taking part in the election".
Mr Farage has reported the body to the Charity Commission
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Equally, charities are not permitted to encourage support specific parties nor their candidates.
And, finally, the charity must stress its independence and clarify that any involvement with political parties is balanced.
"A charity must not give support or funding to a political party, not to a candidate or politician," it adds.
On its website, HNH's so-called mission is to "work tirelessly to expose and oppose far-right extremism".
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Mr Rankin previously reported HNH to the commission last year
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In its work, the group regularly takes aim at Mr Farage's party, describing Reform UK as a "dangerous movement".
HNH is a private company, with connections to Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust (HUCT), a charitable body registered with the watchdog.
Back in 2024, HNH received a grant of almost £800,000 from the registered company, making up almost its total expenditure that year.
The charity's spending over the same period is just over £100,000 more.
Mr Farage also pointed out a majority of the directors and trustees on the HUCT's board are sitting or former Labour MPs, including Labour chairwoman Anna Turley.
In a moment of cross-party consensus, Jack Rankin, a Tory MP, spoke up to defend Mr Farage's referral earlier this afternoon.
Last September, Mr Rankin reached out to the Charity Commission to issue a complaint over HNH's alleged political activity.
The Windsor MP sounded the alarm over HUCT "funnelling taxpayer funds" into HNH, which he dubbed a "purely political operation with a reported history of fabricating security threats, spreading disinformation and pushing smear campaigns".
However, he claimed the governmental body lacks the adequate legislative powers to "effectively enforce" its own guidelines.
A spokesman for HNH said: "Reform UK’s complaint is a transparent attempt to dodge scrutiny of its candidate after HNH exposed misogynistic and degrading posts from its Makerfield by-election candidate.
"HNH exists to challenge hate and extremism, and to expose those who promote racism, intolerance and division in our politics. Voters have a right to know what candidates seeking their support have said and done.
"Reform dismissed their candidate’s comments as ‘locker room banter’ and fully backed him. Voters can judge that for themselves.
"HNH is supporter-funded and registered with the Electoral Commission as a third-party campaigner."