Nigel Farage has stated he has "done no wrongdoing" following reports that he failed to declare benefits provided by an associate who has a prior fraud conviction in the United States. The Reform UK leader insisted he "followed the rules" and suggested the allegations were part of an "establishment hit job."
The Sunday Times reported that the support from George Cottrell, 32, included staff for security and social media content creation in the year leading up to Farage's election. The report also claims Farage used a property rented by Cottrell near Buckingham Palace.
Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde has requested an investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner, stating that Farage needs to be transparent with the public. "He has dined out on a career about taking control, yet he won't tell us, he won't be straight with us about who controls him," Babarinde told BBC Radio 4.
Under parliamentary rules, Members of Parliament are required to declare financial interests and "registrable benefits" received in the 12 months preceding their election. However, purely personal gifts or benefits are not subject to registration.
Farage's team has argued that the alleged "in kind" – non-cash – benefits from Cottrell did not require registration, a similar argument to one he made previously regarding a £5 million gift from a Reform UK donor that was not declared. Farage contended that this gift did not need to be declared as it was received before he became the Member of Parliament for Clacton and was not political in nature.
Cottrell, described as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur and associated with the offshore gambling website Tether.bet, is a long-standing ally of Farage and previously volunteered for Ukip before the Brexit referendum. In 2017, he admitted to a count of wire fraud in the US.
Farage has indicated he is considering legal action against The Sunday Times, asserting, "I have done no wrongdoing, followed the rules and I am now considering legal action against the Sunday Times. It's now clear the establishment will stop at nothing to hurt Reform - we want to smash their cosy consensus."
Farage's Register of Members' Financial Interests does list a £9,253 trip to Belgium in April 2024 donated by Cottrell, and a £15,276 donation from Cottrell for a US domestic flight in December 2024. No other support from Cottrell is currently listed.