Sources, Methods & Editorial Standards
Every data point on this dashboard is sourced. This page documents all data sources, their limitations, update frequencies, and the classification methodology used throughout.
Editorial Principles
No unsourced claims
Every factual claim on this dashboard is linked to a primary or verified secondary source. If a source cannot be identified, the claim is not included.
No editorial commentary
This dashboard presents data. It does not label Reform UK as 'far right', 'corrupt', or any other characterisation. The data is presented without spin and users draw their own conclusions.
Corrections policy
If a data point is found to be incorrect, it will be corrected and the correction noted. Classification decisions that are genuinely ambiguous are marked as 'Contradictory' rather than 'Reversed'.
Scope: What This Dashboard Does and Does Not Cover
This dashboard covers:
- ✓Polling trends and electoral trajectory
- ✓Financial donor networks and declared donations
- ✓Parliamentary voting records and attendance
- ✓Policy pledge vs. reality tracking
- ✓Council seat distribution and structural data
This dashboard does NOT cover (see Reform Watch):
- →Individual councillor misconduct incidents
- →Racism, hate speech, and ethics violations
- →Full biographical profiles of 1,000+ officials
- →Social media monitoring
- →Leaflet and campaign material tracking
Data Sources
Free, unauthenticated UK polling API providing composite monthly averages across all major polling firms, individual poll data, historical trends, and betting odds. Covers all major UK polling houses including YouGov, Ipsos, More in Common, Opinium, Find Out Now, BMG, Techne, Verian, Focaldata, and JL Partners.
The UK Electoral Commission publishes all declared donations to political parties above the legal threshold of £11,180. Data includes donor name, amount, date, and donation type. Published quarterly with a 30-day reporting lag.
TheyWorkForYou provides structured data on all UK MPs including voting records, attendance, speeches, written questions, and committee appearances. Data is sourced from official Hansard records.
Official UK Parliament API providing biographical data, committee memberships, and registered interests for all current MPs.
Public First is an independent research and communications consultancy. Their policy tracker monitors Reform UK and Labour policy positions against stated commitments.
Left Foot Forward is a progressive news website that tracks political accountability. Their Reform UK u-turn tracker is regularly updated with sourced documentation.
Open Council Data UK aggregates councillor data from all English and Welsh local councils, providing party affiliation, ward, and term information for all sitting councillors.
Reform Watch tracks incidents involving Reform UK officials including suspensions, resignations, and misconduct. This dashboard uses Reform Watch data for incident tracking only — not for the main councillor database.
Classification Definitions
A documented public statement, vote, or official party communication that directly contradicts a specific commitment made in the Reform UK 2024 General Election manifesto. Requires at least one primary source (Hansard, official statement, or verified news report).
The evidence is mixed — some statements or actions support the original pledge, others contradict it. The party has not formally clarified its position.
No documented contradiction with the original manifesto commitment has been identified. The party continues to publicly support the position.
A policy position or campaign issue that has become prominent since the 2024 election but was not a stated commitment in the manifesto.
A donor whose registered address as declared to the Electoral Commission is outside the United Kingdom. This classification does not imply illegality — overseas UK nationals are permitted donors under UK law. It is a factual description of the declared address.
Update Schedule
| Module | Data Source | Update Frequency | Lag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polling Trends | ElectaMeter API | Daily | ~24 hours |
| Donor Network | Electoral Commission | Weekly | Up to 30 days (regulatory) |
| Parliamentary Record | TheyWorkForYou | Weekly | ~48 hours after Hansard publication |
| Policy Tracker | Multiple | Weekly | Manually reviewed |
| Council Intelligence | Open Council Data UK | Weekly | Up to 7 days |
Reform Intelligence is an independent, non-partisan data dashboard. It is not affiliated with any political party, campaign organisation, or media outlet. It is not affiliated with Reform Watch. The project's goal is to make publicly available data about Reform UK accessible, searchable, and clearly sourced. The data speaks for itself — no editorial commentary is added. If you identify an error or have a correction, the methodology is documented here and corrections will be made transparently.