Metropolitan Police probe Reform UK campaign funding

The Metropolitan Police launched the inquiry in February 2025 following concerns regarding the legitimacy of financial contributions linked to Fiona Cottrell. She is the mother of George Cottrell, a political associate of Farage who served time in a U.S. prison after a 2017 conviction for wire fraud. While authorities have questioned two individuals regarding the transactions, no arrests have been made at this stage.

This probe adds to mounting pressure on Farage, who has faced weeks of scrutiny over his personal financial disclosures and party funding. These concerns include undisclosed gifts from a cryptocurrency investor, which Farage maintains were received prior to his candidacy and thus fell outside declaration requirements. In a move to address the ongoing controversy, Farage recently resigned his parliamentary seat to force a by-election, framing the contest as a referendum on his political conduct and financial transparency.