A British aristocrat with a criminal conviction for money laundering in the United States, George Cottrell, has been identified as a secret funder of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, according to a report. Cottrell, known as 'Posh George,' reportedly paid for security, drivers, and staff for Farage, and allowed him to stay in his London townhouse.
Cottrell, the grandson of the 3rd Baron Manton, was jailed at age 23 for participating in a U.S. money-laundering conspiracy. Following his release in 2017, he relocated to Montenegro, establishing a base in the upscale resort of Porto Montenegro. This exclusive port is known for attracting billionaires and oligarchs who dock their superyachts there. Cottrell himself resides in a fifth-floor penthouse apartment overlooking the marina.
This is not the first instance of significant financial support for Reform UK from individuals with ties to Montenegro. Crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, who has also registered a company in Montenegro, reportedly gave £9 million to Reform UK and £5 million to Farage personally, prompting a parliamentary investigation.
Cottrell has faced other allegations in Montenegro. He has denied claims from Montenegrin government officials that he was linked to crypto businesses, including Tether.bet, an online bookmaker. His lawyers have stated he has no interest or involvement in the platform. Additionally, he has refuted accusations from a former justice minister that he secretly financed the election campaign of Montenegro's Prime Minister, Milojko Spajic, with his legal team arguing these allegations were part of a politically motivated disinformation campaign.
Cottrell has described such accusations as "extreme lies" amounting to "defamation on a massive scale," blaming anonymous social media accounts utilizing AI tools. He has also written in a Montenegrin news website that he has contributed to the nation's economic success and described himself as a "well-known political consultant."
A source close to Cottrell suggested his financial activities involve a system for professional gamblers to place bets under other people's names to circumvent restrictions imposed by bookmakers. This comes amid reports of a substantial financial loss for Cottrell in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro.
Porto Montenegro, once envisioned as the "Monaco of the Adriatic" with a bohemian spirit, has evolved into a hub for the wealthy, attracting figures from the financial and oligarchic worlds. The resort's development involved investors such as Canadian mining billionaire Peter Munk, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and Nat Rothschild. Cottrell's presence and alleged financial dealings have drawn scrutiny within this environment, where a visitor described the port as "screamingly nouveau riche."
In 2023, a cryptocurrency ATM machine at a casino linked to Cottrell was confiscated by the Montenegrin government. The then-finance minister stated the machine was "linked to Cottrell," a claim his lawyers deny.
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has expressed intentions to champion a crypto revolution in the UK. Montenegrin Prime Minister Spajic has also been a proponent of cryptocurrency, aiming for it to contribute significantly to the nation's economic output.