Police Investigate £500,000 in Donations to Reform UK
Police are investigating £500,000 in donations made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell. Two separate donations of £250,000 were sent by Fiona Cottrell in May 2024, according to reports.
Her son, George Cottrell, 32, is a convicted fraudster who secretly bankrolled Nigel Farage. George is already at the centre of a police investigation for 'the evasion of restrictions on donations', which includes concealing or disguising donations from an 'impermissible donor'. Two people have been interviewed under caution in connection with the probe.
Fiona Cottrell's Background and Donations
Fiona Cottrell, 67, is an aristocrat who is said to have dated Prince Charles in the 1970s. She has no history as a political donor, but is believed to have made the two £250,000 donations before the last general election. Both donations were made before Farage announced he was officially going to stand as an MP, The Times reports.
Fiona is also believed to have sent a £1 million payment to a company belonging to Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader. Half of this was then donated to Reform, The Guardian reports. It is unclear where Fiona obtained the £1 million sum, and whether this relates to the ongoing police investigation.
George Cottrell's Role and Farage's Resignation
George Cottrell's donations before the election covered everything from drivers to security, as well as the use of a luxury townhouse near Buckingham Palace. Farage quit as Clacton MP following questions over a £5 million donation from billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Parties in Westminster are boycotting the by-election, describing it as a 'sham'. This has left comedy candidate Count Binface as the highest-profile opponent for the Reform UK leader. Reform had originally hoped the vote would be held on August 6 but Tendring District Council announced the date would be a week later. Potential candidates can submit their nominations from July 14-17 and residents of the Essex constituency not already on the electoral register have until July 28 to apply for a vote.
