Reform UK Targets Jonathan Reynolds with Private Prosecution Over CV Claims

Reform UK has announced plans to table a private prosecution against Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, accusing the Labour minister of misleading the public by claiming to be a solicitor despite never qualifying as one. The move was revealed by party leader Nigel Farage during a speech at Reform UK’s Cornwall conference on Monday evening, where he took aim at Reynolds, alleging the minister has “never had a proper job.”

Farage’s Bold Statement

Farage told the audience: “I can confirm tonight that there will be a private prosecution against Jonathan Reynolds.” The statement drew applause from party supporters as he criticized Reynolds for what he described as a pattern of dishonesty about his professional credentials.

The Allegations

The allegations centre on multiple instances where Reynolds presented himself as a solicitor, including on his LinkedIn profile, in a 2014 speech in the House of Commons, and on an old constituency website that is no longer active. However, records show that Reynolds worked only as a trainee solicitor at a law firm before entering politics and never completed the qualifications required to be fully accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

SRA Reopens Investigation

The announcement comes hot on the heels of the SRA’s decision last week to reopen its investigation into Reynolds’ claims. A spokesperson for the regulatory body explained: “We looked at that issue at the time we became aware of it and contacted Mr Reynolds about the profiles. The materials were corrected, and we closed the matter with no further action based on all the evidence we had at the time. However, we’ve now become aware of further information, so we will look at this.” The SRA had initially contacted Reynolds in January after spotting the discrepancy on his LinkedIn page, which was subsequently amended.

Labour sources have previously dismissed the inaccuracies as “human error,” insisting that Reynolds does not personally manage his LinkedIn profile. Despite this, the renewed scrutiny has fuelled calls from Reform UK and other critics for greater accountability, with Farage arguing that the Business Secretary’s actions undermine public trust in government. For a deeper dive into why this matters and how readers can get involved, check out my take here.

A Political Escalation

The private prosecution marks a bold escalation in Reform UK’s campaign against the Labour administration, reflecting the party’s growing willingness to challenge political opponents through unconventional means. It remains unclear what specific charges the party intends to pursue, but the move could place additional pressure on Reynolds amid an already turbulent period for Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.

As the SRA investigation unfolds and Reform UK prepares its legal case, all eyes will be on how Reynolds and the Labour Party respond to this latest challenge. For now, the controversy serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes—and higher scrutiny—facing those in public office.

Stay tuned to www.waynelewis.uk for updates on this developing story.