NIGEL Farage faces the prospect of four separate sleaze probes after revelations he had taken financial support from a convicted fraudster.
The Reform UK leader is under growing pressure over his donations, with the latest claims that his long-term aide George Cotrell paid for staff before the General Election adding to questions over his donations.
Cottrell, an aristocratic banker who previously served eight months in a US prison for fraud, provided benefits such as security and housing and has continued to give him use of a five-storey Georgian townhouse he rented near Buckingham Palace, The Sunday Times reported.
Farage was already facing questions over a £5 million gift from the Thailand-based billionaire Chrisopher Harborne, which is subject to an investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner.
New referrals take the total number of potential probes faced by Farage to four, including another referral by Labour MP Phil Brickell over accusations that Farage “lobbied” Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey to drop plans for a state-run alternative to cryptocurrency, which could have an impact on the business model of donors to his party, including Harborne.
Elsewhere, he is also facing a potential probe after Labour MP Joe Powell reported him to the standards commissioner over claims reported in The Times that he had failed to properly declare all the properties which make up a property portfolio worth £4m.
It is thought that the lobbying claims may fail to bear fruit, the i newspaper reports, however MPs told the paper that Farage’s failure to declare benefits and gifts are “clear cut” and should lead to further investigations.
If he is found to have breached parliamentary rules, he could face sanctions as severe as a suspension from the Commons which would trigger a recall petition and a by-election.
This could be risky for the Reform UK leader with Rupert Lowe’s splinter outfit Restore Britain thought to be likely to target Farage’s Clacton seat, splitting the right-wing vote.
Farage has claimed to be the victim of an “establishment hit job”, telling the Daily Express: “I have done no wrongdoing, followed the rules and I am now considering legal action against The Sunday Times.”
Robert Jenrick, Reform’s Treasury spokesperson, admitted that Cottrell – known as “Posh George” – paid for staff and security for Farage in 2024 but claimed that “no rules have been broken whatsoever”. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the former Tory minister added: “There's nothing to see here.”
Labour Party chair Anna Turley said Farage should stop “blaming the media” and answer questions about the support from Cottrell.
“Reform’s excuses for the scandals engulfing Nigel Farage are getting pathetically weak,” the Cabinet minister said.
“His top team must be wondering how many more times they will be wheeled out to defend the indefensible only for the rap sheet against him to grow just hours later.
“This latest revelation appears to pour cold water on Farage’s claims that the gifts and support he received from a convicted criminal were not in support of his political activities.
