George Cottrell 'transferred $2m to his mum' days before her Reform UK donations

George Cottrell 'transferred $2m to his mum' days before her Reform UK donations The party’s finances have come under intense scrutiny over recent weeks, and the Metropolitan Police are looking at whether donors might have got around restrictions on political funding A convicted fraudster is said to have transferred more than two million dollars to his mother before she donated to Reform UK in 2024. George Cottrell is reported to have sent the massive sum to his mum Fiona Cottrell, with part of it then going to Nigel Farage’s party. Mr Cottrell is a convicted criminal who provided funding for Nigel Farage’s security and staffing in the year before he was elected. The party’s finances have come under intense scrutiny over recent weeks, and the Metropolitan Police are looking at whether donors might have got around restrictions on political funding. Ms Cottrell is thought to have received one deposit of 1.4 million dollars and then two further installments of more than 300,000 dollars each. She allegedly told bankers the money came from her son, when she was asked about the deposits. Ms Cottrell received the money around 24-72 hours before she made a donation either to Reform UK directly or to the company Britain Means Business, according to The Guardian. The Met Police is understood to be probing two donations totaling £500,000 from Britain Means Business, a company directed by Reform’s Deputy Leader Richard Tice, in 2024. Electoral Commission records show the two donations of £250,000 were given to Reform by the company two days apart. The money was paid to his company by Reform donor Ms Cottrell, Mr Tice has previously outlined. Reports suggest she gave £1 million to Britain Means Business in June 2024, and half of that money was then given to Reform. Bridget Phillipson, the Labour Party chairwoman, urged Reform UK leaders to “stop ducking questions and come clean about who’s bankrolling the party”. She said: “This is incredibly serious for Nigel Farage and Reform. If these reports, which George Cottrell is yet to deny, are true, then the ultimate source of these donations to Reform was Cottrell himself." A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform takes pride in its stringent vetting of donations and always ensures that the Electoral Commission guidelines on donations, as set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, are strictly followed, as has been the case with all donations.”