Key facts
- Nigel Farage received a £5m gift from billionaire donor Christopher Harborne.
- George Cottrell transferred over $2m to his mother, Fiona, who then made significant donations to Reform UK.
- George Cottrell also provided a loan to Richard Tice's company, repaid after a donation to the party.
- The Metropolitan police are investigating donations made by Fiona Cottrell.
- Parliamentary standards investigations are ongoing into Farage's gift and benefits from Cottrell.
Reform UK's financial structure is under intense scrutiny following revelations about significant donations and loans involving key party figures. The Guardian has detailed a £5m gift to Nigel Farage from billionaire donor Christopher Harborne, a transaction that has raised numerous questions. Further investigations have uncovered secret donations and behind-the-scenes financial arrangements.
Sources indicate that George Cottrell, described as an unpaid adviser to Reform UK and a friend of both Farage and Harborne, transferred over $2m to his mother, Fiona, in 2024. These transfers preceded substantial donations made by Fiona to the party and its fundraising vehicle, Britain Means Business. The Metropolitan police have interviewed two individuals under caution as part of an investigation into these donations.
Additionally, George Cottrell provided a loan of £78,100 to Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, through Tice's company, Tisun Investments. This loan was reportedly repaid after Tisun Investments made a donation of £613,000 to Reform UK. Tice has described the transaction as a "bridging loan".
These financial dealings have prompted concerns among bank staff, who reportedly alerted the National Crime Agency. Two parliamentary standards investigations are also underway, one concerning the £5m gift to Farage and another into benefits he may have received from Cottrell. Farage has largely responded to these disclosures with explanations of an "establishment plot" to undermine him, rather than directly answering questions.