Police investigate Reform donations, the Times reports
Summary
The Metropolitan Police are investigating over £500,000 in donations made to the UK political party Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, whose son is a convicted fraudster. The inquiry looks into whether these donations broke rules about who can give money to political parties before the 2024 UK General Election.Key Facts
- Police began investigating Reform UK donations in February 2025 after a referral from the Electoral Commission.
- Fiona Cottrell donated two payments of £250,000 each to Reform UK in May 2024, before the general election.
- The investigation concerns possible breaches of laws that limit or control political donations, including hiding the true source or amount.
- Fiona Cottrell’s son, George Cottrell, who pleaded guilty to fraud in the US and served jail time, reportedly paid for Nigel Farage’s staff and security before the election.
- Nigel Farage was elected to the UK Parliament for the first time in the 2024 election.
- George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing in relation to these donations.
- The police are working with the Crown Prosecution Service and have interviewed two people, but no arrests have been made yet.
- The Electoral Commission said the police are leading the investigation, as it involves offences they cannot investigate themselves.
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