Police investigate payments to Reform UK first revealed by The Guardian
Summary
The Metropolitan Police are investigating payments made to the UK political party Reform UK before the 2024 general election. The inquiry focuses on large donations sent through a company run by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, with concerns about the source of the funds.Key Facts
- The police are examining two donations of £250,000 each given to Reform UK by Britain Means Business, a company controlled by Richard Tice.
- Britain Means Business received a £1 million transfer from Fiona Cottrell shortly before these donations.
- Fiona Cottrell’s son, George Cottrell, has a criminal record for fraud and close ties to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
- Both Fiona and George Cottrell have been questioned by police under criminal caution.
- Fiona Cottrell also directly donated two payments of £250,000 each to Reform UK in May 2024.
- A suspicious activity report was filed by bankers regarding the £1 million transfer, prompting a probe into the money’s origin.
- The National Crime Agency is working with foreign partners to trace where the transferred money came from.
- No arrests have been made; the investigation concerns possible breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
