The constabulary are investigating astatine slightest £500,000-worth of donations made to Reform UK by the parent of a convicted fraudster who paid for Nigel Farage's societal media unit and security, the Times paper reports.
Fiona Cottrell is reportedly astatine the centre of the enquiry being conducted by the Metropolitan Police. The paper reports, external that officers person spent much than a twelvemonth looking into imaginable offences relating to "the evasion of restrictions connected donations."
This relates, the Times alleges, to concealing oregon disguising donations derived from an "impermissible" donor to a governmental party, oregon the usage of "false" accusation astir a donation including the magnitude oregon the individuality of the donor.
The insubstantial reports that it understands the probe is astir 2 payments of £250,000 Fiona Cottrell made to Reform earlier the past wide predetermination successful 2024.
The archetypal donation appeared successful the party's relationship connected May 9 2024. The 2nd 1 appeared a fewer weeks aboriginal connected 29 May, conscionable implicit a period earlier polling day. Records of the donations person been published by the Electoral Commission, external.
Nigel Farage was elected to the Commons for the archetypal clip astatine that election.
The Sunday Times reported astatine the play that Cottrell's son, George Cottrell, had supported the Reform UK person by paying for unit and information earlier the election, but these benefits were not declared erstwhile Farage became an MP.
George Cottrell pleaded blameworthy to fraud successful the United States and spent 8 months successful jailhouse there, earlier being released successful 2017.
Lawyers for George Cottrell said helium "categorically disputes allegations and assertions made by the Sunday Times" successful narration to his fiscal assistance for Farage. The Reform person has denied immoderate wrongdoing connected his part.
Approached by the BBC, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: "An probe was launched successful February 2025 aft a referral was made to the Metropolitan Police by the Electoral Commission relating to donations made to a governmental enactment up of the 2024 UK General Election."
She added: "Detectives from the Met's Special Enquiry Team are investigating alleged offences nether Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
"Early investigative proposal has been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service and 2 radical person truthful acold been interviewed nether caution. No arrests person been made.
"An offence nether this conception is not 1 that the Electoral Commission tin analyse and, arsenic such, it is simply a substance for the police."
The Electoral Commission told the BBC: "The Metropolitan Police Service person issued a connection astir an on-going constabulary investigation. We person nary further comment."
The BBC has attempted to interaction Fiona Cottrell for comment.
English (US)·