THE convicted fraudster who secretly funded Nigel Farage transferred more than $2 million to his mother shortly before she made large donations to Reform UK and an affiliated fundraising vehicle, according to reports.
Financial industry sources told the Guardian that Fiona Cottrell – who is an ex-girlfriend of King Charles – received one deposit of $1.4m and two further transfers of more than $300,000 each, and that she told bankers the money had come from her son George Cottrell when they questioned the sudden influx of cash.
On each occasion, the transfers are understood to have been made between 24 and 72 hours before Fiona Cottrell donated either directly to Reform UK or via Britain Means Business, a company controlled by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice.
The lump sums went through US-based cryptocurrency exchanges before being converted into conventional currency and sent to Fiona Cottrell’s account, with some of the money routed via money exchange services, according to the sources.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating Reform’s funding, focusing on whether attempts were made to disguise the ultimate source of donations, after a referral from the Electoral Commission.
Two Reform sources involved in fundraising before the 2024 General Election told the Guardian that George Cottrell had assured senior party figures that money would be “on its way” to the party and that “he was acting as a sort of shadow treasurer, saying he would find a way to get more money in”.
Asked about the transfers, lawyers for George Cottrell said he had no further comment. In previous correspondence, he has not denied giving his mother large sums of money, instead insisting that “any political donations his mother has made have been entirely her own decision, and are a matter for her”.
Tice previously claimed that Fiona Cottrell made the donation, but it was not known whether the money originated from the convicted criminal’s newly-opened Oneify account. Tice then transferred half of that cash – the £500,000 – to Reform.
Britain Means Business was listed as the donor on Electoral Commission filings, rather than Fiona Cottrell.
The transactions, and other payments which are currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, mean Fiona Cottrell had a role in 35% of all funds received by Reform UK during the 2024 General Election campaign.
George Cottrell, 32, is a tax resident in Montenegro, has said he was eligible to donate as an “overseas voter” by the time of the election, but the Sunday Times reports it is unclear if he held this status when the payments were made.
George Cottrell, sometimes known as “Posh George”, is said to have paid for three members of staff to run the Reform UK leader’s social media. He is also reported to have provided help in the form of security and accommodation for Farage.
Cottrell also paid £9000 for a trip Farage took to Belgium before the 2024 election and for a £15,000 domestic flight the Clacton MP took in the US.
Reform have denied any wrongdoing and Farage has claimed to have been the victim of an “establishment hit job”.
The Met’s investigation into donations linked to Fiona Cottrell has been running for more than a year. In a recent statement, the force said detectives from its Special Enquiry Team are examining alleged offences under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, have sought early advice from the Crown Prosecution Service and interviewed two people under caution, although no arrests have been made.
