Reform UK general secretary Tom Waterhouse has quit the role, with a party spokesperson confirming that the party leader has appointed an interim general secretary in his place.

What led to the departure

Waterhouse's exit followed the charging of George Madgwick, Reform UK's Hampshire county council leader, with 12 counts of rape and one of distributing an indecent image of a child.

Staff at Reform's Millbank HQ were informed on Wednesday that Waterhouse was leaving.

Waterhouse's role in the party

Waterhouse was a public affairs executive who had previously worked for Westminster thinktanks and the Crown Estate, and was recruited in August last year.

He held a central place in the party's operations:

• •He drove Reform UK's professionalisation drive, including a donor-funded recruitment push.
• •He was involved in the selection of candidates for a future general election.
• •Alongside legal secretary Adam Richardson, he took part in the party's internal investigation that cleared James Orr and Dan Jukes of breaking laws banning foreign donations, even though the matter remained under police investigation.

Vetting now under Paul Nuttall

Reform's candidate vetting process is now run by Paul Nuttall, the party's deputy chair and a former Ukip leader.

Labour's criticism and Farage's response

Labour party chair Bridget Phillipson described Waterhouse as Reform's latest fall guy and said no one in the party decides without Nigel Farage's approval.

Phillipson said Farage had yet to explain what he knew about the arrest of his Hampshire campaign manager and leader, who faces 35 serious charges, noting that Madgwick was arrested in January over several alleged sexual offences and was still in his role nearly 10 months later. She also accused Farage of trying to cover up a secret £5m "gift" from a crypto billionaire.

Farage said he was unhappy that Madgwick remained in post. Madgwick denies any wrongdoing.

The departure adds to recent internal turmoil. Last month Farage blamed "staff incompetence" for a poor turnout and a half-empty hall at a Reform UK economic policy launch in London. Tim Montgomerie, a former Conservative who defected, was suspended in August after criticising Farage's decision not to attend the count when he won the Clacton byelection. Waterhouse is one of a number of figures seen as an asset to Reform's push for power who have recently left the party or been sidelined.

Reform UK has not named the interim general secretary beyond confirming the party leader has made the appointment.