Matt Goodwin, Reform UK’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by‑election, is facing questions over his links to a Hungarian organisation partly financed through profits from Russian oil, following an investigation by the Good Law Project.
Goodwin, a political scientist and GB News presenter, has been associated with Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) since at least 2024. The Budapest‑based institution, which has close ties to Viktor Orbán’s government, confirmed he has “participated” as a visiting fellow, teaching and delivering public lectures. It declined to say whether he remains on the payroll or how much he has been paid.
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According to documents obtained by Hungarian investigative outlet Direkt36, visiting fellows at MCC can receive between €5,000 and €10,000 per month, alongside benefits including housing, office space and health insurance. The Good Law Project reports that MCC’s substantial endowment, more than €1bn, is partly derived from a 10% stake in MOL Group, an energy company that refines oil sourced largely from Russia.
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The investigation also highlights MCC’s growing presence in the UK. The organisation has spent more than £500,000 amplifying right‑wing voices, and has developed links with figures connected to the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation. Goodwin spoke at a Scruton‑themed symposium at the Hungarian Embassy in London in October 2025, alongside British political and cultural commentators and Hungarian government officials.
Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, said the findings underscored the need for scrutiny of foreign influence in UK politics. He argued that the investigation showed Reform UK and Goodwin were “enriching themselves on foreign far‑right money” and participating in what he described as an “extremist anti‑British project”.
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Reform UK strongly rejected the allegations when approached by JamRadio. A spokesperson said the claims were “false” and amounted to “a desperate attempt to derail a democratic by-election”.
The party said:
“Matt was for a brief period a Visiting Fellow at Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) alongside countless other academics and researchers from around the globe, however, at no point was he paid €10,000 a month nor is the MCC funded by money from Russia.
It is standard for academics to hold fellowship positions at other institutions around the world. As a respected academic known for his award winning research, Matt has given hundreds, if not thousands, of paid talks to organisations around the world including in the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan and more.
It should be noted Matt was also a Senior Fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs at Chatham House for a decade, where he undertook paid work, and he is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Buckingham."
Reform did not answer questions about whether Goodwin is currently receiving payments from MCC.
The revelations come as Reform seeks to expand its electoral footprint, with Goodwin presenting himself as a candidate focused on “putting Britain first”. The Good Law Project argues the financial and political networks surrounding MCC raise concerns about transparency and foreign influence. Reform UK maintains the allegations are unfounded and politically motivated.
The row also comes as Labour leader Keir Starmer faces renewed scrutiny following a recent U‑turn over the upcoming local elections.
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