Met Police Investigate Reform UK Donations from Company 2026

The Metropolitan police are investigating payments to Reform UK from a company controlled by its deputy leader Richard Tice, as first revealed by the Guardian. The inquiry focuses on two donations of £250,000 made to the party by Britain Means Business in the weeks before the 2024 general election. Scotland Yard is now scrutinising the source and legitimacy of these funds, which involve a £1m transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business shortly before the donations were made.

The Donations and the Company

Britain Means Business is a company solely directed by Richard Tice, who was elected to parliament in the 2024 general election. The company received a £1m transfer from Fiona Cottrell, and about half of that sum was then passed to Reform UK as two equal donations of £250,000. The Guardian revealed these transactions earlier this month, prompting the police investigation.

Fiona Cottrell’s Role and Her Son’s Conviction

Fiona Cottrell is the mother of George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster with close ties to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Both Fiona and George Cottrell have been interviewed under criminal caution as part of the Met’s investigation. The police are also looking into two direct donations of £250,000 each that Fiona Cottrell made to Reform UK in May 2024.

Political Reactions and Allegations

Richard Tice has responded to the investigation by calling it a “politically motivated smear campaign” against Reform UK and its leaders. He questioned why the Met police briefed the BBC before contacting interested parties. The Guardian also reported that the transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business was flagged to the National Crime Agency via a suspicious activity report, though such reports are not criminal charges but indicators of potential money laundering.

Key Takeaways

• The Metropolitan police are investigating £1.5m in donations to Reform UK linked to a company controlled by Richard Tice.
• Fiona Cottrell and her convicted fraudster son George have been interviewed under caution.
• The National Crime Agency received a suspicious activity report about the £1m transfer, but the source of funds remains untraced.
• Reform UK’s deputy leader alleges a politically motivated campaign against the party.

FAQ

The investigation continues as the source of the original £1m from Fiona Cottrell remains untraced by either the NCA or bankers. This case raises questions about transparency and legality in political donations, with potential implications for Reform UK’s leadership and finances.