Reform UK’s Blackpool byelection candidate denies wrongdoing amid charity probe

Charity Commission opens a compliance case' into the soup kitchen founded by Mike Butcher, following allegations about its use during his campaign

Reform UK's candidate in the Blackpool South byelection has denied any wrongdoing after the Charity Commission launched a probe into allegations that the soup kitchen he founded was used to promote his campaign.

Mark Butcher, who is standing for the party in next week's election, posted a Facebook message this month which said that the campaign would be starting at the kitchen, Amazing Graze. He was later pictured shaking hands with the Reform leader, Richard Tice, at the premises and appeared there in a Channel 4 News report, in which Reform UK election material could be seen.