Police investigate donations by Tice company to Reform UK

Metropolitan Police Probe Reform UK Donation Channels

Investigation into Financial Flows Through Tice-Controlled Firm

Samael.lol – The Metropolitan Police have initiated an inquiry into financial contributions directed toward Reform UK, with particular focus on payments channeled through a business entity managed by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice. According to information obtained by BBC News, the firm Britain Means Business provided the political organization with two separate gifts of £250,000 each during the critical period preceding the 2024 general election. At that time, Tice served as the party’s chairman before transitioning to his current role as deputy leader.

Tice has publicly stated that the funds originated from Fiona Cottrell, a prominent financial backer of Reform UK. Cottrell is also known as the mother of a convicted fraudster who maintains close associations with Nigel Farage. The businessman explained that Cottrell transferred the money to his company, which then passed half of those funds to the political party. He emphasized that this arrangement was entirely his decision to make.

“This is the first I have heard of it – if true why are the Met Police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders?”

Legal Framework and Investigation Details

The ongoing probe centers on Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which prohibits concealing or disguising donations that originate from impermissible sources. The legislation also covers situations where false information is provided regarding either the donation amount or the donor’s identity. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that detectives from their Special Enquiry Team are examining potential violations of this statute.

An official spokesperson for the Met stated that the investigation commenced in February 2025 following a referral from the Electoral Commission. The inquiry concerns contributions made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK General Election. Early legal guidance has been obtained from the Crown Prosecution Service, and two individuals have been questioned under caution. To date, no arrests have been executed in connection with these matters.

Timeline of Financial Transactions

All four payments were completed within the weeks leading up to the general election held on 4 July 2024, a date when both Farage and Tice secured their first parliamentary seats. The chronological sequence of events reveals the following pattern:

The initial direct contribution from Ms Cottrell totaling £250,000 was recorded in the party’s financial accounts on 9 May. A second identical payment of £250,000 followed on 29 May, arriving just over a month before polling day. Britain Means Business then contributed £250,000 on 10 June, with another £250,000 payment made on 12 June. These transactions were initially brought to public attention when the Guardian newspaper disclosed that they had been flagged to the National Crime Agency through its Suspicious Activity Reports programme.

Bank Account Freeze and Official Responses

Records maintained by the Electoral Commission indicate that Reform UK’s banking facility was temporarily frozen in the weeks preceding the election. Documentation on the Commission’s website suggests this freeze occurred no more than nine days after Britain Means Business submitted its second donation. The specific reasons for this action remain unclear.

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission acknowledged awareness of the Metropolitan Police’s statement regarding the ongoing investigation but declined to provide additional commentary. Meanwhile, a Reform UK representative emphasized the party’s commitment to rigorous donation vetting procedures. They asserted that the organization consistently adheres to Electoral Commission guidelines as established under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Britain Means Business, which Tice exclusively owns and controls, received £1 million from Fiona Cottrell in June 2024. Electoral Commission disclosures confirm that the company subsequently donated a combined £500,000 to Reform UK during that same month. The BBC has requested a response from Ms Cottrell regarding these developments. The Met investigation into all four donations has been proceeding for more than twelve months, with the police repeating their original statement after The Times newspaper initially revealed that two of Cottrell’s direct donations were under scrutiny.