Police investigate payments to Reform UK first revealed by the Guardian

Metropolitan Police Probe Financial Flows to Reform UK Ahead of Election

Investigation Focuses on Donations Channelled Through Richard Tice’s Company

Wanderstayfinder.com – The Metropolitan police have initiated a formal inquiry into financial transactions involving Reform UK, following revelations originally published by The Guardian. Authorities are examining payments that reached the political party through an entity managed by Richard Tice, who serves as the organization’s deputy leader. Scotland Yard is specifically scrutinizing two separate contributions of £250,000 each, which Britain Means Business provided to Reform UK during the critical period preceding the 2024 general election.

Earlier this month, The Guardian disclosed that Fiona Cottrell executed a substantial £1 million transfer to Britain Means Business shortly before the aforementioned donations were processed. Approximately half of those funds subsequently found their way to Reform UK. Notably, Cottrell’s son, George, carries a conviction for fraud and maintains strong connections with Reform’s prominent leader, Nigel Farage.

According to The Guardian’s reporting, both Fiona and George Cottrell have undergone interviews under criminal caution as part of the ongoing police investigation. This development prompted Tice to issue a public response when questioned by the BBC regarding the matter.

“This is the first I have heard of it – if true why are the Met police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders?”

Adding further complexity to the situation, Fiona Cottrell contributed two additional donations directly to Reform UK, each valued at £250,000, during May 2024. These separate contributions also fall within the scope of the Metropolitan police’s current investigation. Tice, who secured a parliamentary seat following the election, serves as the sole director of Britain Means Business. He has previously acknowledged that his company received financial support from Fiona Cottrell, though he characterized media reports concerning the funds as a politically motivated smear campaign.

Money Laundering Concerns and International Assistance

The Guardian has reported that bankers submitted a suspicious activity report to the National Crime Agency regarding the transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business. While such reports do not constitute formal crime reports, they serve to identify potential money laundering incidents. According to The Guardian’s understanding, neither the NCA nor the reporting bankers have successfully traced the origin of the initial £1 million sent by Fiona Cottrell to Tice’s company. Consequently, the NCA is requesting assistance from a foreign partner organization to help determine where the funds originated.

A spokesperson for Reform UK addressed the situation, stating: “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 donations so far.”

Fiona Cottrell has not yet responded to The Guardian’s efforts to reach her regarding the donations made to Britain Means Business. The newspaper emphasized that quality public interest journalism depends heavily on first-hand accounts from knowledgeable sources. Readers with relevant information are encouraged to contact the publication confidentially through various secure channels, including the Guardian app’s end-to-end encrypted messaging system or through the guidance available at theguardian.com/tips.

Official Police Statement Confirms Investigation Timeline

When questioned by the BBC on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan police reiterated a statement they had issued earlier in the month. The force confirmed that “An investigation was launched in February 2025 after a referral was made to the Metropolitan police by the Electoral Commission relating to donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK general election.”

Further details revealed that “Detectives from the Met’s special enquiry team are investigating alleged offences under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.” The police noted that “Early investigative advice has been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service and two people have so far been interviewed under caution. No arrests have been made.”

The statement concluded by clarifying that “An offence under this section is not one that the Electoral Commission can investigate and, as such, it is a matter for the police.” This distinction underscores why the Metropolitan police, rather than the Electoral Commission, are leading the current inquiry into these financial transactions involving Reform UK.