Police are currently looking into donations amounting to £500,000 made to Reform UK by the mother of a convicted fraudster. Fiona Cottrell, whose son George is closely linked to Nigel Farage, reportedly made two payments of £250,000 each. Investigators are examining whether the origin of the funds was concealed and if the donations came from prohibited sources, such as individuals not eligible to vote in the UK or overseas-based companies. Political parties are mandated by law to reject contributions from such entities.
Electoral Commission data reveals that Mrs. Cottrell, aged 67, contributed two sums of £250,000 to Reform UK before the recent general election, with the donations recorded on May 9 and 29, 2024. These contributions marked her first political funding, and she also donated an additional £250,000 last year.
Following a referral by the Electoral Commission, both The Times and The Guardian reported that the Metropolitan Police initiated an investigation in February 2025 regarding the donations made to a political party in preparation for the 2024 UK general election. The investigation, conducted by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team, focuses on potential violations under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Under this legislation, concealing the true source of a political donation is considered an offense. The Metropolitan Police Service released a statement confirming the ongoing investigation, stating that the matter falls outside the Electoral Commission’s jurisdiction and is therefore under police scrutiny.
Recent reports indicate that Mrs. Cottrell, who once dated King Charles in the 1970s, described herself as a retired stylist in a legal document from 2023. While her late husband’s estate was valued at approximately £1.5 million, it remains unclear how she accumulated the funds she donated to Reform UK.
Moreover, in 2024, Mrs. Cottrell reportedly contributed £1 million to the Reform fundraising initiative, Britain Means Business, managed by Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice. The National Crime Agency expressed doubts about the original source of these funds.
Richard Tice, unaware of the police investigation into the donations, criticized the leaked information, alleging a politically motivated smear campaign. Nigel Farage has also faced scrutiny for allegedly not disclosing financial benefits from Mrs. Cottrell’s son, George Cottrell, who offered support to Farage before he became an MP.
George Cottrell, known as “Posh George,” avoided a lengthy prison sentence in the US by reaching a plea agreement. He was convicted of wire fraud and associated offenses. Reform UK denied any breach of conduct by its leader, Nigel Farage, in relation to these matters.
As Nigel Farage confronts a challenging by-election, accusations surrounding financial dealings persist, including a £5 million ‘gift’ from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Farage’s acceptance of this sum prior to the 2024 general election, without disclosure, has raised concerns about potential breaches of Parliamentary regulations.
Labor chair Anna Turley questioned the origins of Mrs. Cottrell’s donations to Reform UK and George Cottrell’s involvement in Farage’s operations, suggesting that the Metropolitan Police’s inquiry is necessary to clarify these issues.
Nigel Farage maintains his innocence, accusing the establishment of employing unethical tactics against him. Mrs. Cottrell declined to comment on the situation when approached by The Times and The Guardian, while Reform UK has not provided a statement regarding the ongoing investigation.
