The Metropolitan Police are reportedly investigating donations totaling at least £500,000 made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of a convicted fraudster who previously funded Nigel Farage’s social media staff and security. The inquiry, which has been ongoing for over a year, centres on allegations of concealing or disguising donations from an “impermissible” donor or using “false” information regarding the donation’s amount or the donor’s identity, as initially reported by The Times newspaper.
A spokesperson for the Met Police confirmed that an investigation into donations to a political party is active, stating that two individuals have been interviewed under caution, though no arrests have been made. Reform sources, however, maintain that no party officials have been questioned by the police.
The investigation specifically targets two payments of £250,000 each that Fiona Cottrell made to Reform UK prior to the 2024 general election. Records published by the Electoral Commission show the first donation appeared in the party’s accounts on May 9, 2024, with the second following a few weeks later on May 29, just over a month before polling day. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, was elected to the House of Commons for the first time in that election.
Fiona Cottrell has described herself as a “retired stylist.” Her husband, Mark Cottrell, who passed away in 2023, left an estate valued at £1.5 million. BBC News has attempted to contact Fiona Cottrell for comment.
The focus of the inquiry relates to the concept of “permissible” and “impermissible” donors, a framework established by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. This legislation prohibits foreign funding for political parties, stipulating that parties can only accept money from permissible donors, such as individuals registered on an electoral register or companies registered in the UK.
Fiona Cottrell’s son, George Cottrell, has been a close political and personal ally of Nigel Farage. The Sunday Times reported that George Cottrell supported Farage by covering the costs of staff and security before the 2024 election, benefits which were not declared once Farage became an MP. George Cottrell previously pleaded guilty to fraud in the United States, serving eight months in jail before his release in 2017. Following his release, he returned to the UK, where he dated reality TV star Georgia Toffolo, before moving to Montenegro. In Montenegro, the Sunday Times reported he became a “key player” in Tether.bet, an online bookmaker and casino. Lawyers for George Cottrell have stated that he “categorically disputes allegations and assertions made by the Sunday Times” concerning his financial assistance to Farage.
In a related development, Fiona Cottrell also made a £1 million donation in June 2024 to Britain Means Business, a think tank owned by Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, as reported by The Guardian. Electoral Commission data indicates that Britain Means Business subsequently donated £500,000 to Reform UK in the same month. It remains unclear whether the Met Police investigation extends to this donation.
The revelation of the police investigation comes amidst heightened scrutiny of Nigel Farage’s personal finances. He is currently facing a parliamentary standards investigation concerning an undeclared £5 million payment he received before the 2024 general election from crypto billionaire and Reform donor Christopher Harborne. Farage has maintained that this money was an unconditional personal gift and did not require declaration to parliamentary authorities. This week, Farage resigned as the MP for Clacton, aiming to trigger a “people versus the establishment” by-election, in which he intends to stand.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the investigation was launched in February 2025 following a referral from the Electoral Commission regarding donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK General Election. Detectives from the Met’s Special Enquiry Team are investigating alleged offences under Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Early investigative advice has been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service. The Electoral Commission stated that this type of offence is beyond its investigative remit and is a matter for the police, adding they have no further comment.
Upon his release, Cottrell moved back to the UK and dated Georgia Toffolo, reality TV star and winner of I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.
Reform asks NCA to investigate leaks of private financial information
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