A man who was previously convicted of fraud is alleged to have transferred over $2 million to his mother before she made a donation to Reform UK in 2024. George Cottrell reportedly sent a substantial amount to his mother, Fiona Cottrell, and a portion of it was subsequently contributed to Nigel Farage’s party.
Cottrell, a convicted criminal, supposedly provided financial support for Nigel Farage’s security and staff prior to Farage’s election. Recent scrutiny of the party’s finances has led the Metropolitan Police to investigate potential circumvention of political funding restrictions by donors.
Fiona Cottrell is believed to have received a deposit of $1.4 million followed by two additional payments exceeding $300,000 each. She allegedly informed bankers that the funds originated from her son when questioned about the transactions.
The Metropolitan Police is reportedly examining two donations totaling £500,000 from Britain Means Business, a company overseen by Reform’s Deputy Leader Richard Tice, in 2024. Electoral Commission records show that two donations of £250,000 each were made to Reform by the company within a two-day span.
According to previous statements by Richard Tice, the funds were transferred to his company by donor Fiona Cottrell. It is reported that she contributed £1 million to Britain Means Business in June 2024, with half of that amount subsequently channeled to Reform.
Bridget Phillipson, the Chairwoman of the Labour Party, has called on Reform UK leaders to be transparent about their financial backers. She emphasized the significance of the situation, stating that if the reports involving George Cottrell are accurate, then Cottrell himself was the ultimate source of the donations to Reform.
When asked about the payments, Reform Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick asserted that the party had complied with all electoral regulations. Jenrick mentioned that the donations in question occurred some time ago and expressed confidence in Reform’s adherence to electoral rules at the time.
A spokesperson for Reform UK highlighted the party’s meticulous scrutiny of donations and commitment to adhering strictly to Electoral Commission guidelines as outlined in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.