Reform councillors told to call donations inquiry ‘establishment stitch-up’

Party briefing notes say: Daily routine of hit jobs and smears will not deter us from winning next general election'

Reform UK has instructed its councillors to describe a police investigation into donations from the mother of George Cottrell as an establishment stitch-up, as polling showed the party's popularity plummeting.

Internal briefing documents circulated to the party's councillors included instructions to respond to questions about a Metropolitan police investigation into party donations with: It is now clear that the establishment will try anything to stop us", the Times revealed on Thursday.