London police question two over Reform UK donation probe

London police have questioned two people under caution over donations to Reform UK. The Metropolitan Police said the inquiry began in February 2025 after a referral from the Electoral Commission. The case has centered on contributions made before the 2024 UK general election and on whether the party accurately recorded the source of its money.

Investigators are examining potential offences under section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which bars concealment or disguise of the true source of political donations and limits parties to permissible donors. The donations under scrutiny include two payments of £250,000 each made by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of Nigel Farage ally George Cottrell. The first appeared in Reform’s accounts on May 9, 2024, and the second on May 29, 2024.

The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have been made. No party officials have been interviewed. Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, described the investigation as a “politically motivated smear campaign,” while Anna Turley, the Labour chair, said there were “legitimate questions” for Nigel Farage.

Farage also faces scrutiny over party finances and undisclosed gifts, following his decision to resign his Commons seat in Clacton, trigger a by-election and stand again.