The Electoral Commission has been asked by Labour to investigate whether Reform UK has breached donations rules. This follows a Guardian report that George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, transferred over $2 million to his mother in the days prior to her donations to Reform UK in 2024.
Bridget Phillipson, Labour's new chair, wrote to the commission on Thursday, requesting an examination of the donations and their recording. The Electoral Commission has already referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police, who are investigating whether Reform may have concealed or disguised donations from an "impermissible" donor.
According to financial industry sources cited by the Guardian, Fiona Cottrell, George Cottrell's mother, received multiple tranches of money totalling more than $2 million, which she attributed to her son. Transfers were then reportedly made either directly to Reform or through Britain Means Business, a fundraising vehicle for the party.
Reform's economics spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, stated on Thursday that the party is "entirely confident that Reform followed all electoral rules at the time when the donations were made." He added that Reform would participate in any inquiries and, to his knowledge, had not yet been contacted by the police.