Detectives are investigating at least £500,000-worth of donations made to Reform UK by the mother of a convicted criminal.
The Metropolitan Police is said to be investigating two donations of £250,000 made by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of George Cottrell who paid for Nigel Farage's social media staff and security and accompanied the Reform leader to events.
Officers have spent over a year looking into potential offences relating to "the evasion of restrictions on donations", the Times newspaper reported.
Reform insists that no party officials have been interviewed by the police and Deputy Leader Richard Tice on Friday claimed the allegations were part of a "politically motivated smear campaign".
The donations appear to be separate to the £1million that Ms Cottrell gave to a company run by Mr Tice in June last year, which the Guardian reported had been flagged to the National Crime Agency by bankers.
Bankers and the NCA are said to have been unable to confirm the origin of the cash given to Britain Means Business, £500,000 of which was moved into Reform’s coffers weeks ahead of the 2024 general election.
A Met Police spokesman said: “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.”
Mr Farage quit as an MP on Tuesday to fight a “people versus the establishment” by-election in his Clacton constituency.
The Reform leader was facing a parliamentary probe over support provided to him by Mr Cottrell and is also already under investigation over a £5million gift from Thai-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne.
The donation from Mr Harborne was reported to the NCA by bankers concerned it could have been laundered money, the Guardian reported, piling further pressure on Mr Farage.
Mr Cottrell, 32, reportedly recruited and paid three staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the general election, and has continued to allow him to use a five-storey Georgian property he rented near Buckingham Palace.
Under the Commons’ rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.
Aristocrat Mr Cottrell was jailed for eight months in the US in 2017 after admitting wire fraud.
He "categorically disputes allegations and assertions made by the Sunday Times" in relation to his financial help for Mr Farage.
The Reform leader has also denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Tice on Friday claimed the allegations were “outrageous” and part of a "politically motivated smear campaign".
He told Times Radio on Friday: "That's absolutely the first time I've heard of this investigation.
"And isn't it a coincidence that it’s suddenly been leaked out the same week as all the stuff's come out of the National Crime Agency.
"I spoke in the House of Commons yesterday. The fact that my own company bank statements, my own transfers, my own personal discussions with my own bank managers has been leaked by the National Crime Agency to The Guardian ...This is all a politically motivated smear campaign.
"It's outrageous. And I'm afraid, in a sense, it's all this stuff, which is why Nigel has said enough is enough.
“I'm done with this. I'm going to take it to the good people of Clacton-on-the-Sea. This is not a coincidence.”
