Nigel Farage is facing fresh accusations that he broke parliamentary rules by failing to declare financial benefits he received from a convicted criminal in the year before he entered Parliament. Staffing, security and housing were allegedly supplied to the Reform UK leader by his long-time aide George Cottrell, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times.
Alleged undeclared benefits from Cottrell
The Sunday Times reports that Cottrell recruited and paid three staff to work on Farage's social media before the 2024 general election. The newspaper also claims that Farage has continued to use a property rented by Cottrell near Buckingham Palace. Under parliamentary rules, new MPs must declare financial interests and 'registrable benefits' received in the 12 months before their election.
While Farage did register a £9,253 trip to Belgium and a £15,276 US domestic flight, both donated by Cottrell, he has not listed any other support from the backer in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. The Brexit campaigner is already facing an investigation by the Commons sleaze watchdog over an undeclared £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne.
Reform UK denies any wrongdoing
Reform UK has denied that any parliamentary rules had been broken over Farage's relationship with Cottrell and called 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's criminal background and role
Cottrell, a long-standing ally of Farage from his time as a UKIP volunteer, was jailed for eight months in the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to a charge of wire fraud. He was arrested as he and Farage were travelling back to the UK following a trip to the US. Cottrell, who calls Farage 'Daddy', admitted attempting to defraud criminals on the dark web by posing as a money launderer. The Sunday Times describes Cottrell as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur involved in offshore gambling site Tether.bet.
In the year before the 2024 general election, Cottrell allegedly recruited and paid people to revamp Farage's social media, transforming his online profile into one of the most influential in the country. The newspaper also reports that Farage continues to use Cottrell's ultra-luxury Georgian townhouse close to 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.
Labour Party response
A Labour Party spokesperson said: '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.'
