A furious Nigel Farage squared up to a Sky News reporter at Heathrow Airport on Monday, telling him: “You harass my family any more there will be serious consequences.” The Reform UK leader had just flown back from US independence day celebrations when he was doorstepped and asked about his failure to declare financial support from a convicted fraudster.
The clash came as the Sunday Times alleged that Farage had not revealed he received funding from George Cottrell – known as “posh George” – who was jailed for wire fraud in America in 2017. According to the newspaper, Cottrell provided money for Farage’s staffing and security, as well as the use of a London townhouse, before he became an MP.
“MPs urge expanded probe into Nigel Farage's failure to declare financial support from a convicted fraudster.”
Farage is already being investigated by Parliament’s standards commissioner for potentially breaking Commons rules by not declaring a £5m gift from a Thailand-based crypto billionaire shortly before he became an MP. MPs are now calling for that probe to be expanded to include the Cottrell donations.
Under parliamentary rules, new MPs must register any gifts worth more than £300 received in the previous 12 months, unless the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities. Farage has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he is the victim of “an establishment hit job”. Reform UK said Farage did not need to admit the donations because Cottrell gave in a “personal capacity”. Cottrell himself said he disputes the allegations made by the Sunday Times.
Labour Party chair Anna Turley has called for the elections watchdog to investigate, saying Farage “needs to own his self-inflicted scandal and prove he’s not been secretly breaking the rules”. After the airport confrontation, Farage insisted Sky News had “hounded my daughter at her house, just days after The Times published where she lives”. Sky has denied approaching anyone in Farage’s family about the story, but Farage called that an “outright lie”.
Social media users said Farage’s response showed he was feeling the pressure as the row over his finances grows. His approval rating has plummeted and Reform’s poll lead has collapsed in recent weeks.
