Scotland Yard is investigating £500,000 of donations made to Reform UK by the mother of a convicted fraudster and ally of Nigel Farage. Fiona Cottrell, whose son George Cottrell has often accompanied Farage to events, made two £250,000 payments in May 2024 – the first on 9 May and the second on 29 May, just weeks before the general election. The donations are under scrutiny over whether they were intended to conceal a donation by an impermissible donor, an offence under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
George Cottrell, who pleaded guilty to fraud in the United States and spent eight months in jail before his release in 2017, has paid for Farage's social media staff and security, the Times reported. Reform sources say no party officials have been interviewed, and Farage has denied any wrongdoing. Lawyers for George Cottrell said he "categorically disputes" allegations about his financial help for Farage.
“Met Police probe £500k Reform UK donations from mother of George Cottrell, convicted fraudster who backed Farage.”
The Metropolitan Police launched the investigation in February 2025 after a referral from the Electoral Commission. Detectives from the Met's Special Enquiry Team have interviewed two people under caution but made no arrests, a spokeswoman said. Early investigative advice has been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service. The Electoral Commission declined to comment further.
The news is a further blow to Reform and Farage, who already face questions over an undisclosed £5m gift to Farage from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Christopher Harborne. It comes as Farage prepares to fight a byelection in his Clacton constituency after standing down this week. Labour chair Anna Turley said: “Nigel Farage can run against a bin in his distraction byelection, but he can’t hide from legitimate questions. Why did the mother of the convicted criminal who secretly bankrolled him donate half a million pounds to Reform UK? … It’s right that the Metropolitan Police are looking into this.”
Separately, the Guardian revealed that Fiona Cottrell made a £1m deposit in June 2024 to Richard Tice’s company, Britain Means Business. Bankers reported the transfer to the National Crime Agency after being unable to trace the origin of the funds, according to financial industry sources. Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, dismissed the reports about the Cottrell donations as a “politically motivated smear.”