Nigel Farage is confronting new accusations that he breached parliamentary rules by not declaring financial benefits from a convicted criminal in the year before he became an MP. The Reform UK leader allegedly received staffing, security, and housing from his long-time aide George Cottrell, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times.
Alleged Undeclared Benefits
The Sunday Times reports that Cottrell recruited and paid three staff to work on Farage's social media ahead of the 2024 general election. It also claims Farage continues to use a luxury property rented by Cottrell near Buckingham Palace. Under Commons rules, new MPs must disclose financial interests and 'registrable benefits' received in the 12 months before their election.
Farage did register a £9,253 trip to Belgium and a £15,276 US domestic flight, both donated by Cottrell, but has not listed any other support from the backer in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. This follows an existing investigation by the Commons sleaze watchdog over an undeclared £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne.
Reform UK Denies Wrongdoing
Reform UK has denied any breach of parliamentary rules, calling the Sunday Times story 'baseless'. A party spokesperson said: 'It comes as no surprise that The Sunday Times has chosen to publish this baseless and contrived story, covering a period of time when Nigel Farage was not even an active politician, let alone an elected one, given that the newspaper backed the Labour Party at the last general election. Contrary to the story's tone, no parliamentary rules have been broken.'
Cottrell, a longstanding Farage ally from his UKIP volunteer days, was jailed for eight months in the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to wire fraud. He was arrested as he and Farage travelled back to the UK from a US trip. Cottrell, who calls Farage 'Daddy', admitted attempting to defraud criminals on the dark web by posing as a money launderer.
Labour Responds
A Labour Party spokesperson commented: 'Nigel Farage and Reform are engulfed in a huge and growing scandal. It's not going to go away, and trying to take the public for fools by saying it's 'none of your business' won't help. These new allegations of secret payments from a wealthy convicted criminal are on top of the ongoing scandal of his secret £5m gift from a crypto billionaire. How much money has he been given, what did his donors get in return, and why has he tried to cover them up and avoid legitimate questions? Time and again, Farage pretends to be on the side of working people. In reality, he's just in it for himself and can be bought by the highest bidder. He's completely unfit for high office.'
The Sunday Times describes Cottrell as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur involved in offshore gambling site Tether.bet. In the year before the 2024 election, he allegedly recruited and paid people to revamp Farage's social media, making it one of the most influential in the country. The newspaper also reports that Farage continues to use Cottrell's ultra-luxury Georgian townhouse near Buckingham Palace. Cottrell's lawyer told the paper: 'As a close friend, our client did, and does, allow Mr Farage to stay in our client's rental property.' However, a source denied to the BBC that Farage received accommodation from Cottrell.
