Nigel Farage has been accompanied by his friend George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, to numerous Reform events and fundraisers and a trip to Abu Dhabi, raising questions about the claim that he has no official role in the party.
Labour has called on Farage to clarify his “personal and financial dependence” on Cottrell, who has also been supporting his lifestyle through accommodation and security before the election. Analysis of Reform events shows Cottrell is frequently present at party press conferences and backstage at rallies, as well as joining Farage for media appearances, such as interviews with protesters outside the Iranian embassy earlier this year. He was also in attendance when Farage visited north London after a terror attack on the Jewish community, and at a Brexit “bad boys” reunion lunch at a Mayfair restaurant last month.
“Nigel Farage faces questions over convicted fraudster George Cottrell's presence at Reform events and trips.”
In December 2025, Cottrell was present when Farage went to Abu Dhabi, funded by its government, to “attend the F1 and for meetings”. Nick Candy, the party’s honorary treasurer, was also there. The Guardian has also previously revealed that Cottrell was present on a 2022 trip to Thailand with Farage at the resort of Christopher Harborne, the megadonor who has given £15m to the party and £5m to Farage personally.
Reform and Cottrell’s lawyers have previously said Cottrell “is an unpaid volunteer with no formal role at Reform UK, like many thousands of party members”. However, Farage is under pressure to clarify the degree of Cottrell’s influence within Reform, given he so often has access to the party leader and joins him at events and on trips. The Times reported this week that Cottrell had given out a business card with his name on and an official email address for Farage, as well as having provided security, accommodation and staffing for the Reform leader before the election.
In 2016 Cottrell was charged with 21 offences for his alleged role in a “dark money” laundering scheme. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and spent time in prison in Arizona, though he is seeking a pardon from Donald Trump. Reform acknowledged on Sunday that gifts had been received from Cottrell but …
Nigel Farage says he is the victim of an ‘establishment hit job’ and that he has ‘done no wrongdoing’. Farage also awaits the findings of a standards watchdog investigation into a £5m gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.