Key facts
- Labour MPs are proposing to make the UK's temporary ban on crypto political donations permanent.
- The proposed ban is part of amendments to the government's funding bill.
- The move follows scrutiny over large donations linked to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
- The Metropolitan Police are investigating donations to the Reform UK party.
- Fiona Cottrell, mother of a crypto entrepreneur, allegedly donated £500,000 to Reform UK.
- Nigel Farage is also facing scrutiny over separate non-disclosure of alleged gifts from his son, George Cottrell.
Labour lawmakers are seeking to make the UK's temporary ban on cryptocurrency political donations permanent through amendments to the government's funding bill. This push follows scrutiny over significant donations linked to Nigel Farage, leader of the hard-right Reform UK party. The Metropolitan Police are investigating several alleged undeclared donations to Reform UK, including approximately £500,000 from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of a convicted fraudster and crypto entrepreneur. The investigation was initiated following a referral by the Electoral Commission. Farage himself is also facing scrutiny over separate alleged undeclared gifts from his son, George Cottrell, and a previous £5 million donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The probe into the Harborne donation was suspended after Farage resigned as a Member of Parliament to trigger a by-election.