Farage admits pre-election support from convicted fraudster under parliamentary probe
Nigel Farage has acknowledged that George Cottrell funded social media filming and provided a London residence prior to the July 2024 election, describing the arrangements as irrelevant to his political career.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has admitted that convicted fraudster George Cottrell paid for social media filming and allowed him to use a London home prior to the July 2024 general election. Speaking on the Triggernometry podcast, Farage characterised the support as "totally undeclarable in every single way," arguing that it occurred before he was elected and was related to his work as a broadcaster and influencer rather than his political career.
The admission comes amid investigations by the parliamentary standards commissioner into whether the support from Cottrell and a £5m gift from Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne should have been publicly registered. Farage stated that he sought advice from a "top international lawyer" who advised that the £5m from Harborne was unconditional and did not require declaration, although he acknowledged the standards system could rule against him.
Farage also addressed a £500,000 donation to Reform UK from Cottrell’s mother, Fiona, which is currently under police investigation regarding the true source of the funding. During the interview, Farage initially referred to the donation as coming from Cottrell himself before correcting himself, alleging that the timing of the story was part of a coordinated effort to remove him from politics. He noted that the National Crime Agency reported the donation in September 2024, with police follow-up scheduled for spring 2025.
The Reform UK leader called a byelection in his Clacton constituency to allow voters to decide his future, although major parties are boycotting the vote. Farage insisted that Cottrell had given him nothing since his election in July 2024, describing his friend as an "enormously colourful character" and attributing his 2017 US fraud conviction to involvement in tax avoidance schemes.
Scrutiny has also focused on £1m sent by Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business, a company controlled by Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice, with £500,000 subsequently sent to Reform UK. The Sunday Times reported that George Cottrell opened an account with money transfer firm Oneify in May 2024, with funds reportedly routed through a UK bank account of the Australian platform. Farage’s lawyers at Carter-Ruck have stated that George Cottrell confirmed any donations by his mother were her own decision and declined to engage with wider questions.