Labour has called on the Electoral Commission to investigate Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over financial support provided by a convicted fraudster, George Cottrell. The party alleges that Cottrell funded security and staffing for Farage in the year before his 2024 election, potentially violating parliamentary rules and donation laws.
Labour's letter to the Electoral Commission
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley wrote to the watchdog, stating: “It is now abundantly clear that Mr Farage may have not only broken Parliamentary rules, he may have broken the law. Farage can’t brazenly brush this off as being ‘none of your business’ any longer. He needs to own his self-inflicted scandal and prove he’s not been secretly breaking the rules and taking the British public for fools.”
The party questioned whether Cottrell, based in Montenegro, was a permissible donor, noting it was unclear if he was on a UK electoral register at the time. Under rules in place when Farage was elected in 2024, new MPs had to register gifts worth over £300 received in the prior 12 months, unless the gift could not reasonably be linked to political activities.
Details of the alleged support
According to a Sunday Times investigation, Cottrell recruited and paid three staff to work on Farage’s social media before the general election. He also allowed Farage to use a five-storey Georgian property near Buckingham Palace that Cottrell rented. Farage has denied any wrongdoing, saying: “I have done no wrongdoing, followed the rules and I am now considering legal action against The Sunday Times.”
Political reactions and Trump's backing
US President Donald Trump appeared to support Farage, sharing an article on Truth Social titled “They’re Running the 2024 Anti-Trump Playbook on Nigel Farage.” Trump also called Farage to congratulate him on the removal of Sir Keir Starmer, according to The Times. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have demanded a parliamentary sleaze inquiry into the matter.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Farage’s response to Sky News, where he threatened “serious consequences” if his family was harassed. She said: “What surprised me most was what he said… he talked about Leveson. He’s hinting at press regulation… We should be worried about a Reform government using government power to control the press.”
Background on George Cottrell
Cottrell was jailed for eight months in the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to wire fraud, having attempted to defraud criminals on the dark web by posing as a money launderer. He was arrested while travelling with Farage from the US. Cottrell remains a close adviser to Farage, having first volunteered for Ukip before the Brexit referendum.
Farage is already under investigation by Parliament’s standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over an undisclosed £5 million gift from Thai-based billionaire Christopher Harborne. If found in breach, Farage could face a Commons suspension, potentially triggering a recall petition and by-election in his seat. Farage maintains the gift was personal and did not require registration.
