The Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation into payments made by Britain Means Business to Reform UK, following revelations in The Guardian newspaper. At the heart of the inquiry are two £250,000 donations, made during the crucial period leading up to the 2024 general election, with the recipient being the political party led by Nigel Farage. A key player in this saga is Richard Tice, Reform UK's deputy leader and a Member of Parliament since 2024 – he has control over Britain Means Business.
Earlier this month, The Guardian exposed a £1 million transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business, made just before the aforementioned donations were directed to Reform UK. Half of these funds subsequently found their way into the party's coffers. Fiona Cottrell's son, George – a convicted fraudster – has associations with Nigel Farage and Reform UK leader. Both mother and son have reportedly been interviewed under caution by detectives as part of this ongoing investigation.
The probe also examines two direct donations made by Fiona Cottrell to Reform UK in May 2024, each valued at £250,000. The police inquiry began in February 2025 after the Electoral Commission referred concerns about pre-election donations to a political party. Detectives from the Met's Special Enquiry Team are scrutinising alleged offences under Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
When questioned about the investigation, Richard Tice expressed surprise, suggesting he had not been directly contacted by police and questioning whether Scotland Yard leadership was involved in a politically motivated campaign against Reform UK. He has acknowledged his company received donations from Fiona Cottrell but dismissed earlier reports as a "politically motivated smear campaign." A Reform UK spokesperson reaffirmed the party's commitment to robust donation vetting and compliance with Electoral Commission guidelines.
The Guardian also reported that bankers had flagged the transfer from Fiona Cottrell to Britain Means Business through a suspicious activity report, which is not a crime report but identifies potential money laundering incidents. The National Crime Agency (NCA) – unable to trace the original source of the £1 million sent by Fiona Cottrell to Tice's company – is seeking international assistance to uncover the funds' origin.