Key facts
- Labour has requested the Electoral Commission investigate Reform UK's compliance with political donation rules.
- The request follows reports that convicted fraudster George Cottrell transferred over $2 million to his mother shortly before she made donations to Reform UK.
- The Electoral Commission is already reviewing the donations and has made a referral to the Metropolitan police.
- Reform UK maintains that all electoral rules were followed and expressed willingness to cooperate with any inquiries.
The Electoral Commission has been asked to investigate whether Reform UK has breached political donation rules, following revelations that a convicted fraudster, George Cottrell, transferred over $2 million to his mother shortly before she made donations to the party in 2024. Labour's chair, Bridget Phillipson, formally requested the inquiry on Thursday, citing the new information as potentially relevant to whether the true source of the donations has been correctly identified and if statutory requirements for permissible donors have been met.
The commission is already reviewing the matter and has referred it to the Metropolitan police, who are investigating whether Reform UK may have been concealing or disguising donations from an impermissible source. Sources indicate that Fiona Cottrell, George Cottrell's mother, received substantial funds from her son, which she then attributed to him before making donations either directly to Reform UK or through its fundraising vehicle, Britain Means Business.
Reform UK's economics spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, stated that the party is confident all electoral rules were followed and that they will cooperate with any inquiries. He suggested that questions should be directed to George Cottrell, who has not commented on the transfers beyond stating that any donations made by his mother were her own decision. Britain Means Business, whose director is Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice, made two donations of £250,000 to the party prior to the 2024 general election, which were initially reported by The Guardian.
George Cottrell, who has a prior fraud conviction in the US, is often seen with Nigel Farage, to whom he is described as a close ally and adviser. While Reform UK states he is a volunteer, he has previously been described as Farage's chief of staff. Lawyers for Cottrell have declined to comment on the transfers.