ROBERT Jenrick has been accused of trying to play down Reform UK’s donations scandal as questions over "Posh George’s" gifts continue to mount.
The former Tory minister, now Reform’s Treasury spokesperson, has insisted that he is “entirely confident” his party followed all the rules after a wealthy backer reportedly transferred money to his mother before gifting it to Nigel Farage’s right-wing outfit.
The Guardian reported that convicted fraudster George Cottrell transferred more than $2 million (£1.5m) to his mother Fiona Cottrell shortly before she donated to Reform in 2024.
The party’s finances have come under scrutiny in recent weeks, and the Metropolitan Police are looking at whether donors might have circumvented restrictions on the sources of political funding.
Asked by reporters whether he was 100% sure the money came from permissible sources under electoral law, Jenrick said: “The donations you’re referring to were some time ago. This has been going on for a long time.
“But we are entirely confident that Reform followed all electoral rules at the time when the donations were made.
“Of course, we will participate with any inquiries.
“To the best of my knowledge, we haven’t even been contacted by the police, so I don’t think we have anything more to add to that.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said Reform were “up to their neck in sleaze and dodgy money”, adding: “It’s no surprise Robert Jenrick would try to minimise the seriousness of these allegations given one of his donations is also being investigated by the police.
“If these latest claims about George Cottrell are true, Reform may have taken money from a convicted fraudster who was the ultimate source of the donations. That would mean Reform accepted his money even though he has never shown he was legally allowed to donate to a political party at the time.
“With every passing day it’s clearer that Reform think the rules don’t apply to them. They need to wake up and start treating these allegations with the seriousness they deserve and come clean about who is really bankrolling the party.”
Cottrell’s mother, once a girlfriend of the King’s, is thought to have received one deposit of $1.4m and then two tranches of more than $300,000 each.
She allegedly told bankers the money came from her son when she was asked about the deposits.
She received the money around 24-72 hours before she made a donation either to Reform directly or to the company Britain Means Business, according to The Guardian.
The Met’s investigation concerns donations to Reform from Britain Means Business, a fundraising vehicle whose director is the party’s deputy leader Richard Tice.
The Times previously reported that the firm gave Reform two donations of £250,000 in the run-up to the 2024 general election.
The money was paid to his company by Cottrell’s mother, Tice has previously said.
Reports suggest she gave £1m to Britain Means Business in June 2024, and half of that money was then given to Reform.
Cottrell is a convicted criminal who provided funding for Farage’s security and staffing in the year before he was elected.
