The Metropolitan Police are conducting a criminal investigation into donations totaling £500,000 made to Reform UK prior to the 2024 general election by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell. The inquiry, which began in February 2025 following a referral from the Electoral Commission, focuses on potential breaches of electoral law related to the concealment or misrepresentation of donation sources.
Fiona Cottrell, a 67-year-old aristocrat and former model with no prior history as a political donor, made two payments of £250,000 each to Reform UK in May 2024. These donations preceded Nigel Farage’s announcement that he would stand as a candidate in the July 2024 election, where he was elected as an MP for the first time. Scotland Yard officials have interviewed two individuals under caution, though no arrests have been made to date. The probe concerns alleged offenses under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, violations of which carry penalties including fines or imprisonment for up to one year.
George Cottrell, known as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur based in Montenegro, provided various forms of support to Nigel Farage’s political operation, including staffing, security, and accommodation near Buckingham Palace. He was previously convicted in the United States in 2017 for wire fraud. While described by Reform UK as an unpaid volunteer, he has financed trips for Farage to the US and Brussels. Farage maintains that the assistance from George Cottrell did not require parliamentary declaration because it occurred before he became an MP.
The investigation into Fiona Cottrell’s donations emerges amid broader scrutiny of Reform UK’s funding. The Electoral Commission also referred a donation to Reform MP Robert Jenrick’s campaign for the Conservative Party leadership, which is being assessed by the police. Additionally, Farage faces a separate inquiry by the parliamentary standards commissioner over his failure to declare a £5 million contribution from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Nigel Farage resigned as MP for Clacton on 8 July, triggering a by-election expected in mid-August, which he framed as a contest against the political establishment. His resignation temporarily suspended the parliamentary standards investigation, but it could be reinstated if he returns to the Commons. He faces possible sanctions, ranging from a formal apology to suspension, which might trigger a recall petition and another election.
Reform UK spokespersons have condemned the investigations as politically motivated attempts by the establishment to undermine the party, emphasizing their determination to contest the next general election. In contrast, Labour Party representatives have called for transparency and accountability, suggesting the public deserves answers regarding the party’s financial dealings.
The inquiry also touches on a separate £1 million sum reportedly routed through a company linked to Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, though this transaction has not been subject to police investigation. Questions surrounding the origins and legitimacy of these funds persist as the party navigates intensifying official and public scrutiny.