Did crypto gambler Posh George give his mother £2million for Reform?

By JASON GROVES, POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 00:08, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 00:21, 30 July 2026 A crypto gambler gave more than $2million (£1.5million) to his mother days before she gave a similar sum to Reform and a business linked to the party, it was reported last night. George Cottrell is alleged to have transferred three large sums to his mother Fiona in the days before she gave money to Nigel Farage's party. The revelation, by finance industry sources, will raise further difficult questions for the party, which is already mired in controversy over its funding. The Met Police are investigating whether there was an attempt to disguise the source of donations to the party in the run-up to the last election. Cottrell, known as 'Posh George', has no formal role in Reform, but is close to Mr Farage, who has described him as 'like a son to me'.  He is reported to have funded the Reform leader's security during 2024. Cottrell, who has a US conviction for fraud, now lives in Montenegro. His lawyers insist he is a permissible donor in the UK despite living abroad. According to the Guardian, Ms Cottrell made two donations of £250,000 each to Reform in May 2024, shortly before the General Election that year. These donations are reported to have been preceded days earlier by transfers from her son of $318,878 and $328,815. George Cottrell (right with Nigel Farage) is alleged to have transferred $2million (£1.5million) to his mother days before she gave a similar sum to Reform and a business linked to the party Mr Farage is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over his failure to declare a £5million gift from Thai-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne Ms Cottrell also gave more than £1million to Britain Means Business, a company controlled by Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice, in June 2024.  Half the sum was donated to Reform by Mr Tice days later, although there was no indication the money had come from Ms Cottrell.  It is now reported that Cottrell transferred his mother $1.4million shortly before the donation. The lump sums are said to have been transferred via US-based cryptocurrency exchanges.  Ms Cottrell is reported to have told banking authorities the money came from her son when questions were raised. Mr Farage is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over his failure to declare a £5million gift from Thai-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.  Reform did not respond to requests for comment.