Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has received public backing from former US President Donald Trump as he confronts allegations regarding undeclared finances. Trump, a long-term ally of Farage, suggested in a social media post that the Reform leader is a victim of an "establishment hit job," mirroring Farage's own claims.
The scrutiny on Farage centers on reports that his associate George Cottrell, who has a past fraud conviction in the United States, provided funding for security, staffing, and the use of a London townhouse in the year leading up to Farage's election. Critics argue this support should have been declared under parliamentary rules in place at the time, which required MPs to register gifts exceeding £300 within the previous 12 months.
Parliament's standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, is already investigating a separate £5 million gift Farage received from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne. Cottrell reportedly recruited and paid three staff members to manage Farage's social media before the general election and has continued to provide access to a five-story Georgian property near Buckingham Palace.
Trump shared a link on his Truth Social platform to an article from The National Pulse website, which contended that the UK media was unfairly focusing on Farage's controversies while downplaying his policy successes and voter support, drawing parallels to a strategy allegedly used against Trump in 2024.
The Times reported that Trump had personally called Farage to congratulate him on his political achievements. This support comes as Farage returned to the UK from the United States and was involved in a heated exchange with a Sky News journalist at an airport. When questioned about whether he had made a mistake by not declaring gifts from an ally, Farage responded aggressively, stating, "You tell your bosses, you harass my family any more… serious consequences." Sky News stated it had not contacted any members of Farage's family regarding the story.
Farage has issued a statement asserting his innocence, claiming he has "done no wrongdoing" and "followed the rules." He indicated he is considering legal action against The Sunday Times, which first reported the allegations. "It's now clear the establishment will stop at nothing to hurt Reform – we want to smash their cosy consensus," he said.
Opposition parties have reacted to the allegations. Labour has requested the Electoral Commission investigate whether Cottrell's support should have been declared, questioning his status as a permissible donor given his location in Montenegro and the uncertainty about his presence on the UK electoral register at the time. Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley stated that Farage may have not only broken parliamentary rules but potentially the law, demanding he address the scandal.
If an investigation finds Farage in breach of rules and leads to a suspension of more than 30 days from the House of Commons, it could trigger a recall petition and a potential by-election. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for a full parliamentary inquiry into the claims.