Nigel Farage’s deputy has insisted that a donor at the heart of a row over Reform UK’s finances is “permissible” and comes from a “very successful aristocratic family”. Richard Tice said he believed reports about the money from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of George Cottrell, were a “politically motivated smear” against the party amid ongoing scrutiny over support received by its senior figures.
According to The Times, Ms Cottrell made two £250,000 payments to Reform before the last general election in 2024, in which Mr Farage became an MP for the first time. Both sums are said to have been given before Mr Farage announced his intention to stand in his former Commons seat of Clacton.
She also gave £1million to Britain Means Business, described as a fundraising vehicle for the party, of which deputy leader Mr Tice is a director. It was among transactions flagged by bankers to the National Crime Agency (NCA) in suspicious activity reports, according to The Guardian.
The Metropolitan Police has said the force opened an inquiry in February 2025 following a referral by the Electoral Commission “relating to donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK General Election”.
It comes after Scotland Yard was reported to be investigating £500,000 in donations to Reform UK for more than a year, with officers looking into possible offences related to evading restrictions.
Asked whether he was aware of the probe, Mr Tice said: “No, that’s absolutely the first time I’ve heard of this investigation. And isn’t it a coincidence that it’s suddenly been leaked out the same week as all the stuff’s come out of the National Crime Agency?”
He added: “This is all a politically motivated smear campaign. It’s outrageous.”
Asked about the source of the £1million donation by Ms Cottrell to his company, Mr Tice told Times Radio: “Yes, it was donated to the company by Fiona Cottrell, and that is that. She’s a permissible donor.”
Pressed on whether any due diligence was done where Ms Cottrell had got the money from, he said: “I’ve known the Cottrell family, my family have known the Cottrell family and the broader Hesketh family, for 50 years.
“A very successful aristocratic family, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s a permissible donor, and that’s the end of it.”
Ms Cottrell is said to have no history as a political donor.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said two people had so far been interviewed under caution and “early investigative advice” had been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service, but no arrests have been made.
It comes after Mr Farage announced he would quit as MP for Clacton to stand in the ensuing by-election after questions mounted about a separate £5million gift he received from crypto-billionaire and Reform donor Christopher Harborne.
The party leader has billed the by-election, which will take place on August 13, as a “people versus the establishment” contest.
But his main opponent is likely to be the comedy candidate, Count Binface, after the mainstream parties boycotted the contest.
Mr Farage is currently the subject of an investigation by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg into whether his failure to declare the £5million gift on becoming an MP in 2024 breached Commons rules.
That investigation was suspended on his resignation, but is likely to resume if he wins the by-election and returns to the Commons.
If he is found to have broken the rules and a suspension of more than 10 days is imposed, it could trigger a recall petition and the prospect of Mr Farage losing his seat, forcing a second contest.
Mr Farage said he believed he was facing the “anti-Trump playbook” and accused other parties of “acting in concert” with each other to boycott the by-election.
US president Donald Trump appeared to indicate his backing for the Reform UK leader earlier this week, sharing a link to an article from the National Pulse website headlined: “They’re Running The 2024 Anti-Trump Playbook On Nigel Farage” on his Truth Social platform.
