The Metropolitan Police have been investigating at least £500,000 of donations made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell, for more than a year. Fiona Cottrell made two £250,000 payments to the party before the 2024 general election, according to The Times. Both she and her son have been interviewed under criminal caution by Scotland Yard detectives, the Guardian understands. No arrests have been made, and Reform sources say no party officials have been interviewed.
The investigation centres on allegations of concealing or disguising donations from an “impermissible” donor, or using false information about a donation including the amount or the identity of the donor. The concept of “permissible” and “impermissible” donors was introduced by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), which prohibits foreign funding for political parties. Permissible donors include individuals registered on a UK electoral register and companies registered in the UK.
“Explaining the police investigation into Reform UK donations and UK political funding rules.”
George Cottrell is a close political and personal ally of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. He pleaded guilty to fraud in the United States and spent eight months in jail before being released in 2017. He later moved to Montenegro, where he became a “key player” in an online bookmaker and casino, according to The Sunday Times. The Times reported that Cottrell supported Farage by paying for staff and security before the 2024 election, but these benefits were not declared once Farage became an MP.
For UK readers, this investigation matters because it tests the rules designed to keep foreign money out of British politics. Under PPERA, it is an offence to enter into any arrangement that facilitates donations by anyone other than a permissible donor, or to knowingly give false information about a donation's amount or source. The Electoral Commission referred the case to the Met, which launched a criminal investigation. The Guardian reports that police are seeking disclosure and documents from banks and other financial institutions, and the investigation is expected to take many more months.
The donations have also sparked political fallout. A YouGov poll found that only 21% of British adults would like to see Nigel Farage re-elected as MP for Clacton, while 33% would prefer the parody candidate Count Binface. Nearly three in four (74%) said the parliamentary standards commissioner should be investigating Farage.
Q: What is the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000? This is the law that sets rules for political donations in the UK. It bans foreign funding by only allowing donations from “permissible donors” – individuals on the electoral roll or UK-registered companies. It also makes it a criminal offence to conceal the true source of a donation.
Q: Who are George and Fiona Cottrell? George Cottrell is a convicted fraudster who served eight months in a US jail and is a close aide to Nigel Farage. His mother, Fiona Cottrell, is a retired stylist who lives in Worcestershire and once dated King Charles. She made two £250,000 donations to Reform UK before the 2024 election.
Q: Why is the Met police investigating? The Electoral Commission referred the case after concerns that the donations might have evaded restrictions on political funding. The Met is investigating whether an arrangement existed to facilitate impermissible donations or false information about the donations' source, which would be offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.
The Met investigation is ongoing, with police seeking evidence from financial institutions. No charges have been brought, and the case is expected to take many more months to conclude.