Metropolitan Police probe donations to Reform UK by firm controlled by Nigel Farage's deputy Richard Tice

The Metropolitan Police have launched a probe into donations made to Reform UK by a firm controlled by the party leader's deputy. Britain Means Business - a limited company and fundraising vehicle controlled by Nigel Farage's deputy, Richard Tice - is being investigated after giving Reform two donations of £250,000 in the lead up to the 2024 general election. The money was paid by Fiona Cottrell, whose son 'Posh George' has previously provided staffing, security and accommodation for Mr Farage - whom he calls 'Daddy'. Ms Cottrell, 67, the daughter of the late Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton, and a former model who reputedly dated King Charles when he was Prince of Wales, is said to have given £1million to Britain Means Business in June 2024. Half of that money was then given to Reform. Police are now examining the transactions involving Mr Tice's company. Ms Cottrell is the mother of George Cottrell, a crypto-currency entrepreneur based in Montenegro and a convicted criminal who provided funding for Nigel Farage's security and staffing in the year before he was elected. Reform's bank account was frozen during the last election after the donations. The allegations were first reported on Saturday afternoon by the BBC, who revealed that the Met Police had launched the latest probe into donations made to Britain Means Business. Richard Tice said in response to the probe: 'This is the first I have heard of it – if true why are the Met Police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Richard Tice responded to the Met Police probe by saying it was 'the first I have heard of it' Fiona Cottrell, a former model who reputedly dated King Charles when he was Prince of Wales, is at the centre of the police probe into £500,000 donations to Reform UK Fiona Cottrell is the mother of George Cottrell (pictured) - also known as 'Posh George'. George Cottrell previously provided staffing, security and accommodation for Mr Farage - whom he calls 'Daddy' Britain Means Business is a limited company and fundraising vehicle controlled by Richard Tice, Reform UK's deputy leader 'Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders? 'Please remember the National Crime Agency is now having to investigate its own potential criminal offences against Reform leaders.' The force said on July 10, when the probe into the donations totalling £500,000 was launched, that it is looking at a section of electoral law, punishable with a fine or up to a year in prison, that makes it a crime for anyone to evade restrictions on the source of donations by withholding details or supplying false information. 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 donations so far.'The Met said two people have so far been interviewed under caution, the Times reported. A spokesperson continued: '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.'Detectives from the Met's Special Enquiry Team are investigating alleged offences under Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.'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.'An offence under this section is not one that the Electoral Commission can investigate and, as such, it is a matter for the police.'Asked previously about where Ms Cottrell had got the money from, Mr Tice said: 'I've known the Cottrell family, my family have known the Cottrell family and the broader Hesketh family, for 50 years.'A very successful aristocratic family, and as far as I'm concerned, she's a permissible donor and that's the end of it.'Ms Cottrell is said to have no history as a political donor. A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'The allegations of sleaze and donation scandals just continue to pile up for Reform.'Richard Tice can't dismiss these troubling developments as a 'smear campaign'. Police are now probing half a million pounds in donations to his party, and Reform's bank account was frozen after suspected suspicious activity. This is extremely serious.'From Nigel Farage's secret £5 million 'gift' from a crypto billionaire, to alleged hidden donations from a convicted fraudster, to Tice's company's avoidance of £600,000 of corporation tax – and now more police investigations into Reform's finances – it's clear that Reform think rules are for other people.'Reform has been dogged by questions about its funding in recent weeks.Mr Farage has announced he will quit as MP for Clacton to stand in the ensuing by-election after questions mounted about a separate £5million gift he received from crypto-billionaire and Reform donor Christopher Harborne. The party leader has billed the by-election, likely to take place on August 13, as a 'people versus the establishment' contest.