George Cottrell, an aide to Nigel Farage, and his mother Fiona Cottrell have been interviewed under criminal caution by Metropolitan police detectives as part of an investigation into donations to Reform UK before the July 2024 general election, the Guardian understands.
Interviews part of broader inquiry
Both Cottrell, known as “posh George”, and his mother were invited for interview by detectives from the Met’s special inquiry team and attended voluntarily. The interviews are believed to be part of an ongoing investigation into donations made to Reform UK ahead of the election.
Fiona Cottrell, who lives in Worcestershire and once dated King Charles, has not responded to media questions about her support for Reform. Lawyers for George Cottrell, who resides in Montenegro, said he had no comment. In a previous letter to the Guardian, his lawyers stated that “his mother’s donations have been entirely her own decision, and are a matter for her” and that suggestions he “has donated impermissibly to Reform UK are unfounded”.
Met investigation launched after Electoral Commission referral
The Met decided to launch a criminal investigation last year after a referral from the Electoral Commission. According to a Met statement released on Thursday, the investigation is examining “donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK general election” and “alleged offences under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000” (PPERA).
PPERA is designed to prevent evasion of restrictions on donors. It is an offence to knowingly enter into or facilitate any arrangement that enables donations from impermissible sources, or to knowingly provide false information about a donation’s amount or source with intent to deceive.
Investigation expected to take months
The Guardian understands the Met investigation is expected to take many more months and involves seeking disclosure and documents from banks and other financial institutions. The force has sought and received early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. A criminal caution protects the rights of those interviewed and means anything said could be used as evidence.
On Thursday, the Times reported that police were investigating donations worth £500,000 made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell in May 2024. The Guardian now understands the Met inquiry, which began in February 2025, is broader and is looking at other financial issues relating to Reform.
Broader financial scrutiny of Reform UK
The Guardian revealed this week that a number of financial transactions involving senior Reform figures had been reported to the National Crime Agency by bankers concerned about potential money laundering. The Met investigation originated from a £1m donation to Reform UK’s fundraising vehicle, Britain Means Business, on 10 June 2024 by Fiona Cottrell. Half of this, £500,000, was transferred to Reform UK by 12 June, weeks before the election.
When asked about the £1m by Times Radio on Friday, Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, said he was “not aware” of it being investigated. He stated that Fiona Cottrell “is a permissible donor, she donated to the party, and that’s the end of it.” Regarding due diligence, he said he had known the Cottrell family for 50 years and described articles about the funding as “a politically motivated smear campaign.” He also said he understood George Cottrell was a permissible donor.
The funding of Reform UK has come under increasing scrutiny since the Guardian revealed in April that Farage received £5m from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before announcing his candidacy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch are among those demanding more transparency from Reform about its finances.
