Reform UK fails to strike out data protection claim at London court, with judge ruling the case raises genuine issues for trial

Reform UK, the UK political party, has failed in a London court to have a data protection claim struck out at a preliminary hearing. The court ruled on Friday that the case raises issues that must proceed to trial and is not an abuse of process — rejecting Reform UK's argument that the claim was politically motivated. The claimant brought proceedings under data protection regulation — the applicable UK data protection framework — against the party. Reform UK sought to have the case dismissed summarily, arguing it was brought for improper political purposes rather than legitimate legal redress. The judge declined to accept that characterisation, finding instead that the claim raises substantive questions suitable for full trial. The ruling is notable for several reasons. It demonstrates courts' reluctance to strike out data protection claims at an early stage, even where defendants argue that the litigation is strategically motivated rather than substantively meritorious. Political parties hold significant quantities of personal data about members, donors, and supporters — making them natural targets for data protection claims — and this ruling signals that such defendants cannot easily exit proceedings on abuse-of-process grounds without a full evidential hearing.