The Metropolitan Police are investigating donations made to Reform UK through a company controlled by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice. The inquiry centers on two payments of £250,000 each made to Reform UK by Britain Means Business, Tice’s company, in the weeks leading up to the 2024 general election.
According to the investigation, these donations followed a transfer of £1 million to Britain Means Business from Fiona Cottrell in June 2024. Approximately half of this sum was subsequently passed on to the political party. Fiona Cottrell has also made two separate donations directly to Reform UK of £250,000 each earlier in May 2024. These transactions are included in the scope of the police inquiry.
Fiona Cottrell is the mother of George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster who has close ties to Nigel Farage, Reform UK’s leader. George Cottrell has served as a fundraiser for Farage and has been linked to the former leader through previous business activities. Both Fiona and George Cottrell were interviewed under criminal caution as part of the ongoing investigation.
The money transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business was reportedly flagged by bankers through a suspicious activity report filed with the National Crime Agency (NCA). While suspicious activity reports are designed to identify potential money laundering or other criminal conduct, they are not themselves allegations of wrongdoing. Authorities have noted difficulties in tracing the ultimate origin of the £1 million transferred by Cottrell, with the NCA seeking assistance from foreign partners in this effort.
Richard Tice, who was elected to Parliament following the 2024 election, is the sole director of Britain Means Business. He has confirmed that his company received donations from Fiona Cottrell but dismissed media coverage of the matter as a “politically motivated smear campaign.” Tice also expressed concern over the police reportedly briefing the media before informing him directly.
Reform UK has maintained that it follows strict vetting procedures for donations in line with the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and Electoral Commission guidelines. A party spokesperson emphasized their commitment to ensuring compliance with regulations concerning political contributions.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed their investigation was launched in February 2025 after receiving a referral from the Electoral Commission relating to possible offences under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Detectives from the Met’s special enquiry team are leading the inquiry and have sought early advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. To date, two individuals have been interviewed under caution in connection with the case. Officials declined to provide further details about the ongoing investigation.