Another blow for Nigel Farage as Reform's General Secretary departs after 16 months in the top job as he takes the blame for the party's vetting failures over recent months

Résumé détaillé

Party officials confirmed Mr Waterhouse's departure to the Mail this morning, insisting he is leaving to 'spend more time with his family'.

Published: 11:45 GMT, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 11:54 GMT, 11 November 2026

Nigel Farage was dealt another blow today, as Reform UK's general secretary Tom Waterhouse left after just sixteen months in the top job.

Party officials confirmed Mr Waterhouse's departure to the Mail this morning, insisting he is stepping down to 'spend more time with his family'.

While Mr Waterhouse is not a household name in British politics, he has played a crucial role in the party over recent months.

The party's general secretary led a recent internal investigation into Mr Farage's top aides, James Orr and Dan Jukes, following a donations row in October, which was branded a 'whitewash' by opposition parties.

Mr Waterhouse, alongside the party's legal secretary Adam Richardson, undertook the probe after undercover journalists filmed two of Mr Farage's closest allies talking about taking money from a fake US businessman.

Alongside party chairman Lee Anderson, he also suspended Tim Montgomerie, a prominent party supporter and media commentator, in August, while Nigel Farage was away.

The investigation spearheaded by Waterhouse said it did not excuse the 'foolish' way in which the aides discussed donations with an overseas donor, but that they had not broken any laws.

A Reform UK spokesman confirmed: 'Tom Waterhouse has left his role with Reform UK. The party leader has now appointed an interim General Secretary.'

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