Reform UK MP Lee Anderson Faces Scrutiny Over Paid Cameo Videos Filmed in Parliament
Lee Anderson, a Member of Parliament for Reform UK, is under scrutiny for recording paid-for personalized videos within the Palace of Westminster, potentially violating rules prohibiting commercial activities on parliamentary grounds. This comes after he received a previous warning regarding commercial filming in the same location.
Valentine’s Day Messages and Previous Warnings
In early February 2025, Anderson sold two Valentine’s Day messages via Cameo, a video messaging app where users can commission short clips from public figures, for £45 and £56 respectively. He filmed these videos from what he described as the “beating heart of democracy in Westminster.” A spokesperson for Anderson stated that all earnings from Cameo are donated to a male suicide charity. The Guardian reported on this matter.
Anderson was previously warned about commercial filming in Westminster and apologized in September 2023 after being found in breach of MPs’ rules for recording a promotional clip for his GB News program from the roof of the House of Commons. He promised to refrain from creating commercial videos on the parliamentary estate following that incident.
Comparison to Nigel Farage’s Cameo Activity
Anderson joined Cameo in July 2024, just two days after being elected as a Reform MP, following in the footsteps of his party leader, Nigel Farage. However, Anderson’s presence on the platform is significantly less prominent than Farage’s. The Guardian found 22 public videos produced by Anderson, compared to 1,794 from Farage.
Farage has earned at least £374,893 from Cameo in the last five years and his videos have faced scrutiny for containing support for a rioter, far-right slogans, misogynistic remarks, and references to antisemitic conspiracy theories. A spokesperson for Farage stated that his Cameo videos should not be considered political statements or campaign activity.
Additional Video Content and Potential Rule Breaches
Beyond the Valentine’s Day messages, Anderson has filmed six other videos in locations outside of Westminster, offering tours of the Houses of Parliament to recipients of the paid-for clips. He invited them to visit London and promised to show them around the parliamentary estate and enjoy a drink together. These videos may also constitute a breach of MPs’ rules, which prohibit offering tours of parliament as a “prize or reward for fundraising or for any other kind of benefit.”
Recent Developments
As of March 19, 2026, a YouTube short detailing the situation has been published. YouTube
A discussion regarding the incident is also taking place on Reddit. Reddit