Detectives are currently looking into donations made to Reform UK by a company under the control of Richard Tice. The Metropolitan Police is reportedly investigating two donations amounting to £500,000 from Britain Means Business in 2024. These funds were allegedly transferred to the company by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster and close associate of Nigel Farage.
The donations came under scrutiny after the Electoral Commission raised concerns regarding the origin of the money. Mrs. Cottrell supposedly contributed £1 million to Britain Means Business in June 2024, with half of that sum subsequently finding its way to Reform.
Recent reports indicated that the Metropolitan Police was also examining two direct donations totaling £500,000 to Reform UK by Mrs. Cottrell. Authorities are investigating whether the funds may have originated from impermissible sources, such as individuals not eligible to vote in the UK or overseas companies. Political parties are mandated by law not to accept donations from such entities.
Records from the Electoral Commission reveal that two donations of £250,000 each were given to Reform by Britain Means Business within a short span of two days. While not explicitly naming Reform UK as the recipient, the Metropolitan Police stated that an investigation was initiated following a referral from the Electoral Commission regarding donations made to a political party before the 2024 UK general election.
The investigation is focused on potential violations under Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Early consultations have been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service, with two individuals already interviewed under caution, although no arrests have been made.
The legislation in question criminalizes the concealment of a political donation’s origin. The Metropolitan Police underscored that such offenses fall within their jurisdiction rather than that of the Electoral Commission.
The scrutiny intensified after The Sunday Times disclosed that Reform UK’s bank account underwent a temporary freeze just before the general election, halting transactions for two weeks while compliance checks were conducted.
Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson from the Labour Party expressed concerns about the donation scandals surrounding Reform UK. Richard Tice, the party leader, faced criticism over the ongoing investigations into substantial donations and the temporary freezing of Reform’s bank account.
Mr. Tice has been listed as an officer for Britain Means Business since 2017, as per Companies House records. In response to media reports, Mr. Tice questioned the timing of the police briefings to the BBC and raised suspicions of a politically motivated smear campaign against Reform UK and its leadership.
A spokesperson for Reform UK emphasized the party’s rigorous vetting procedures for donations, ensuring compliance with Electoral Commission guidelines outlined in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Reports from The Times revealed details about Mrs. Cottrell, including her past relationship with King Charles in the 1970s and her description as a “retired stylist.” Her late husband’s estate was valued at approximately £1.5 million, raising questions about the source of funds she directed to Reform.
The National Crime Agency reportedly doubted Mrs. Cottrell’s claim as the legitimate source of the funds. Her son, George Cottrell, avoided a lengthy prison sentence in the US by agreeing to a plea deal after being charged with wire fraud in 2017.
Under the alias “Bill,” Mr. Cottrell engaged in activities involving the movement of criminal proceeds, including illicit drug money, through the dark web.