The Metropolitan Police are investigating about £500,000 in donations made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster and an associate of Nigel Farage. Multiple reports say the inquiry focuses on whether the May 2024 donations—two payments of £250,000—were structured or intended to conceal the identity of a donor who would not be permitted to make a donation. The investigation is described as relating to alleged “evasion of restrictions on donations.” Reports also state that police interview people under caution as part of the inquiry. Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice has said the allegations amount to a politically motivated smear campaign. Some outlets add further related claims, including that Fiona Cottrell may also have made a larger £1 million payment to a company connected to Tice, with part of that amount later donated to Reform, though the relationship to the police probe is not confirmed across sources. Separately, the broader political context includes scrutiny of other Reform fundraising questions involving Farage.
Met Police investigate £500,000 Reform UK donations linked to Fiona Cottrell
The Metropolitan Police are investigating about £500,000 in donations made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster and an associate of Nigel Farage. Multip...
- Metropolitan Police are investigating roughly £500,000 in donations to Reform UK linked to Fiona Cottrell.
- The donations are reported as two payments of £250,000 made in May 2024.
- Police inquiry concerns whether the donations involved alleged evasion of donation restrictions or concealment of an impermissible donor.
- Reports say at least two people are interviewed under caution as part of the investigation.
- Reform officials, including Richard Tice, dispute the allegations and describe them as politically motivated.
Two separate donations of £250,000 were sent by Fiona Cottrell in May 2024 (Picture: Reuters) Police are investigating £500,000 in donations made to Reform UK by the mum of a convicted fraudster. Two separate donations of £250,000 were sent by Fiona Cottrell in May 2024. Her son George Cottrell, 32, is a convicted fraudster and secretly bankrolled Nigel Farage. George is already at the centre of a police investigation for ‘the evasion of restrictions on donations’. This includes concealing or disguising donations from an ‘impermissible donor’. Two people have been interviewed under caution. Geroge’s mum Fiona, 67, is an aristocrat who is said to have dated Prince Charles in the 1970s. She has no history as a political donor, but is believed to have made the two £250,000 donations before the last general election. Both donations were made before Farage announced he was officially going to stand as an MP, The Times reports. Make sense of the mad world of British politics Get analysis of the latest stories – including Nigel Farage’s resignation – direct to your inbox from Metro’s Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro. Sign up here. Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage after having a milkshake thrown on him with George Cottrell (left)(Picture: James Manning/PA Wire) Fiona is also believed to have sent a £1 million payment to a company belonging to Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader. Half of this was then donated to Reform, The Guardian reports. It is unclear where Fiona got the £1 million sum from, and if this relates to the ongoing police investigation. George Cottrell’s donations before the election covered everything from drivers to security. It also included the use of a luxury townhouse near Buckingham Palace. Farage quit as Clacton MP following questions over a £5 million donation from billionaire Christopher Harborne. Parties in Westminster are boycotting the by-election, describing it as a ‘sham’. This has left comedy candidate Count Binface as the highest-profile opponent for the Reform UK leader. Reform had originally hoped the vote would be held on August 6 but Tendring District Council announced the date would be a week later. Potential candidates can submit their nominations from July 14-17 and residents of the Essex constituency not already on the electoral register have until July 28 to apply for a vote. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
1 month agoPolice are understood to be probing £500,000 of donations to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, mum of Nigel Farage ally and convicted fraudster George Cottrell, to determine if she was the original source of the funds
1 month agoReform Deputy Leader Richard Tice claimed the allegations were part of a ‘politically motivated smear campaign’
1 month agoThe Metropolitan Police said they opened an inquiry in 2025 into £500,000 of donations
1 month agoPolice investigate Reform donations, the Times reports BBCPolice investigate Reform donations by mother of fraudster who bankrolled Farage The TimesThe Guardian view on Nigel Farage’s crypto cash: accountability is not a conspiracy | Editorial The GuardianBest of times, worst of times politico.euPolice probe £500k donations to Reform by fraudster’s mother The Telegraph
1 month ago
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