UK police probe Reform UK donations linked to Richard Tice's firm

The Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation into donations made to Reform UK by Britain Means Business, a fundraising vehicle controlled by the party’s deputy leader Richard Tice. The probe focuses on two £250,000 payments made in the weeks before the 2024 general election, which were funded by a £1 million transfer from donor Fiona Cottrell; approximately half of that sum was passed on to Reform UK.

The investigation, launched in February 2025 after a referral from the Electoral Commission, examines possible offences under Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which prohibits disguising donations from impermissible sources. Detectives have interviewed two individuals under caution and have made no arrests. Reform UK says it strictly vets donations and noted that its bank account was frozen during the election period.

Richard Tice said he was unaware of the payments and criticised the police for briefing the media before contacting the party, describing the inquiry as a politically motivated smear campaign. Fiona Cottrell is the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell, who has close links to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.