Reform, a party opposing immigration that has outpaced the ruling Labour party in opinion polls for more than a year, is now under close examination for multiple alleged undisclosed contributions.
On Friday, Britain’s hard-right Reform UK party encountered renewed inquiries regarding financial donations after reports revealed that police are probing contributions made by the mother of a convicted fraudster.
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This development occurred as officials confirmed a snap UK election scheduled for 13 August, featuring Reform leader Nigel Farage competing against novelty candidate Count Binface.
Reform, known for its anti-immigration stance and leading the ruling Labour party in polls over the past year, is confronting intensive investigations into several supposedly undisclosed donations.
According to a late Thursday report by The Times, London’s Metropolitan Police is examining donations worth approximately £500,000 (€587,222) given to Reform by Fiona Cottrell, a wealthy aristocrat.
The newspaper noted that these payments were made prior to the July 2024 general election, marking the occasion when Farage secured a parliamentary seat for the first time.
A police representative confirmed that an investigation was initiated in February 2025, prompted by a referral from the Electoral Commission, the UK body responsible for election oversight and political finance regulation.
The spokesperson added that two individuals have been interviewed under caution and that «early investigative advice» has been sought from prosecutors, although no arrests have occurred.
Fiona Cottrell is the mother of George Cottrell, a 32-year-old crypto entrepreneur convicted of fraud in the United States in 2017.
Farage has already been under scrutiny for failing to disclose alleged gifts from George Cottrell, as revealed by the Sunday Times.
Furthermore, Farage, who denies any misconduct in all allegations, was subject to a parliamentary investigation regarding a £5 million (€5.8 million) donation from Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency billionaire based in Thailand.
This inquiry was suspended after Farage announced his resignation as MP for Clacton in southeast England on Tuesday, thereby triggering a by-election.
The investigation is expected to resume if Farage wins back his seat, a scenario considered highly probable.
Farage, 62 years old, privately educated and a former commodity broker, described the upcoming contest as a «people versus the establishment» battle.
However, other major parties regard the election as a political stunt and have decided not to field candidates.
As a result, the most prominent challenger against Farage remains Count Binface, a self-proclaimed «intergalactic space warrior» known for his trash-can-shaped head and flowing cape.
Tendring District Council, encompassing Farage’s Clacton constituency, announced on Friday that the vote will take place on 13 August.
The council specified that nomination submissions must be made between 14-17 July.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice on Friday labelled the allegations concerning Fiona Cottrell as a «politically motivated smear» directed at his party.
Additional sources • AFP