Met Police Investigate Reform UK Donations via Richard Tice 2026

The Metropolitan police investigation into Reform UK donations has intensified as Scotland Yard examines payments made via a company controlled by deputy leader Richard Tice. The inquiry focuses on two £250,000 donations from Britain Means Business to the party just before the 2024 general election. This development follows a Guardian report revealing that Fiona Cottrell transferred £1 million to Britain Means Business, with half of those funds then passed to Reform UK. The case raises serious questions about political finance and potential money laundering.

Key Details of the Investigation

The police are scrutinizing transfers from Fiona Cottrell, whose son George has a fraud conviction and close ties to Reform leader Nigel Farage. Both Fiona and George Cottrell have been interviewed under criminal caution. The donations under investigation include two direct payments of £250,000 each from Fiona Cottrell to Reform UK in May 2024, in addition to the funds routed through Britain Means Business.

Richard Tice's Response

When contacted by the BBC, Richard Tice claimed this was the first he had heard of the investigation, questioning why the Met would brief the press before contacting interested parties. He accused the police of engaging in a politically motivated smear campaign against Reform UK. Tice, who is the sole director of Britain Means Business, has previously confirmed receiving donations from Fiona Cottrell but denies any wrongdoing.

Financial Trail and Suspicious Activity Reports

The Guardian revealed that the original £1 million transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business was flagged via a suspicious activity report (SAR) to the National Crime Agency. SARs are not criminal charges but alerts for potential money laundering. Notably, neither the NCA nor the bankers involved have been able to trace the source of the original £1 million sent by Fiona Cottrell.

Broader Implications for Political Funding

This investigation highlights vulnerabilities in UK political donation regulations. The ability to route large sums through companies owned by party officials raises transparency concerns. Reform UK has faced multiple allegations of opaque funding, and this case could prompt calls for stricter oversight of third-party donations. The background to this story is set out in IOPC Investigates Met Police Handling of Meghan Warning Letter.

• Police investigation targets two £250k donations via Britain Means Business
• Fiona Cottrell transferred £1m to Tice's company before donations were made
• Her son George Cottrell is a convicted fraudster with links to Nigel Farage
• Direct donations of £250k each from Fiona Cottrell also under scrutiny
• Source of original £1m remains untraced by authorities

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