George Cottrell has been accused of making a false claim in a letter to the National Crime Agency (NCA) concerning his association with a prominent defence think tank. In a letter dated July 21, 2026, Cottrell, who has a previous fraud conviction, expressed concerns that his private banking details may have been improperly disclosed. He requested an investigation into whether confidential suspicious activity reports (SARs) linked to him were leaked.

In the letter, Cottrell described himself as a long-standing member of the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), a leading UK think tank specializing in defence and security issues. He also cited membership in the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (Acams) and identified himself as the author of a bestselling book on financial crime and money laundering. His letter emphasized the importance of the SAR regime in combating organised crime.

However, Rusi spokespersons rejected Cottrell’s claim of current membership, stating that although membership is open to anyone willing to pay a fee, Cottrell is not a current member of the institute. Sources indicate that Cottrell had been a member in the past. Rusi’s rules restrict members from using the organisation’s branding or citing membership without written permission from the Director-General. They further allow for suspension or expulsion if such references bring disrepute to Rusi.

The publication learned that Cottrell did not seek or receive permission to reference his alleged membership in the letter. Legal representatives for Cottrell responded by asserting that he first joined Rusi in 2014, has regularly participated in its events, and stands by his description of a long-standing association with the institute. When asked to clarify whether Cottrell considers himself a current member despite Rusi’s statement, his lawyers confirmed that he maintains that status.

Cottrell’s ties to Reform UK and its leader Nigel Farage have recently come under intensified scrutiny. A previous investigation found that Cottrell made substantial financial contributions to Farage that were not declared, prompting Farage to resign as a Member of Parliament and seek re-election in a by-election in Clacton. Critics have labelled the by-election a costly and unnecessary exercise.

Additionally, a police inquiry is underway regarding approximately £500,000 in donations to Reform UK made by Cottrell’s mother, Fiona. Authorities are investigating whether these donations concealed or disguised impermissible funding sources or involved false information about the donation amounts or donors' identities. Both Cottrell and his mother have been interviewed under caution as part of the investigation that has been ongoing for over a year. Fiona Cottrell declined to comment when approached at her residence in Worcestershire.

Cottrell has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the donations and related allegations. The NCA has not released further details about the investigation into the potential leak of his financial information.