Labour demands Reform UK funding probe over fraudster link

The Labour Party has formally asked the Electoral Commission to investigate Reform UK over political donations.

The intervention follows investigative reports revealing that George Cottrell—a convicted fraudster and close ally of Nigel Farage, transferred more than $2 million to his mother, Fiona Cottrell, in the days leading up to substantial donations she made to Reform UK during the 2024 general election cycle.

As reported by The Guardian Labour has accused Reform UK of being “up to its neck in sleaze” as it called on the Electoral Commission to urgently investigate substantial donations made to the party by the mother of a convicted fraudster.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s new chair, called on the commission to examine whether any rules had been broken and the commission has already made a referral to the Metropolitan police, who are looking into whether Reform may have been concealing or disguising donations derived from an “impermissible” donor.

According to financial industry sources, Cottrell’s mother, Fiona Cottrell, received several tranches of money which she attributed to her son who is a close ally and adviser to Nigel Farage.

According to sources, transfers were then made either directly to Reform or via Britain Means Business, a fundraising vehicle for the political party.

A Labour spokesperson said it was now time for Reform to seriously address the allegations. “If these latest claims about George Cottrell are true, Reform may have taken money from a convicted fraudster who was the ultimate source of the donations."

“That would mean Reform accepted his money even though he has never shown he was legally allowed to donate to a political party at the time."

“With every passing day it’s clearer that Reform think the rules don’t apply to them."The party said,"They need to wake up and start treating these allegations with the seriousness they deserve and come clean about who is really bankrolling the party.”

On the contrary, Reform UK has denied the claims and maintained that it followed all electoral rules correctly and exercised stringent vetting regarding its donations, dismissing the mounting pressure as political attacks