
Reform UK politicians promoted JCB pothole machine after £200,000 donation
Reform UK received a £200,000 donation from JCB in November 2025, after party figures including Nigel Farage repeatedly promoted the company's PotHole Pro machine. Farage entered a rally on the vehicle last year, calling it a symbol of 'broken Britain.' Liberal Democrats have complained to the Electoral Commission, questioning whether public contracts are being traded for political patronage. Two Reform-run councils have adopted the machines through proper procurement, though a 2021 trial in Lincolnshire initially found the machine ineffective.