When a company solely owned by Reform UK's deputy leader moved money into the party's accounts, it has now prompted a police probe that reaches the heart of how political donations are made and disclosed in Britain.
How the payments emerged
The Metropolitan Police are investigating two donations of £250,000 each — a total of £500,000 — given to Reform UK in the run-up to the 2024 general election by Britain Means Business, a company controlled and solely owned by Richard Tice.
Disclosures to the Electoral Commission show Britain Means Business received £1m from Fiona Cottrell in June 2024 and that half of that sum was given on to Reform UK the same month. The transfers were flagged to the National Crime Agency through its Suspicious Activity Reports programme and have also been the subject of media scrutiny.
| Entity | Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fiona Cottrell → Britain Means Business | £1,000,000 | June 2024 |
| Britain Means Business → Reform UK | £500,000 (two payments of £250,000) | June 2024 |
Legal context and party response
The investigation relates to legislation that bans disguising or concealing donations that have originated from an impermissible donor, and the use of false information about a donation's amount or identity. Separately, the Times reported that two donations given directly by Fiona Cottrell to Reform UK in May 2024 are also being examined by the Metropolitan Police.
"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?"
Those are the words of Richard Tice after the revelation. He has said the money was provided to his company by Fiona Cottrell and that it was his decision to pass half on to the party. The BBC understands Reform UK was not aware of the Met's investigation into the payments from Britain Means Business.
Immediate consequences and wider significance
Investigations of this kind probe not only whether specific rules on political financing were broken, but also whether due diligence and disclosure processes inside parties are sufficiently robust. The story raises questions about how donations are routed and how parties check the provenance of funds.
- Police inquiries were triggered after transfers were flagged via Suspicious Activity Reports to the National Crime Agency.
- The donations to Reform UK were made in the weeks before the 2024 election, a period of heightened attention on campaign funding.
- Key actors include Britain Means Business (solely owned by Richard Tice) and donor Fiona Cottrell, previously identified in reporting for substantial donations to the party.
As the Met continues its enquiries, political parties and regulators will be watching closely. Any finding that funds were improperly routed or disclosed could prompt further scrutiny of party finances across the board and renewed calls for tighter controls on political donations.
Requests for comment have been made to those involved and to the relevant authorities; the BBC has asked Fiona Cottrell for comment.
