Reform UK leader Nigel Farage received staff, private security, and access to a central London property from George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster involved in an offshore crypto casino, without publicly disclosing the benefits, The Sunday Times reported on July 5. Cottrell provided drivers, security personnel composed primarily of former soldiers, and recruited and paid for three staff members to assist with Farage's social media. Farage registered only one benefit from Cottrell upon entering Parliament in July 2024: travel, security, and accommodation worth less than £9,300 (approximately $12,400) for an event in Belgium. The undisclosed gifts come as UK parliamentary disclosure rules face scrutiny over non-monetary benefits from crypto-linked supporters.
Farage said in a statement that he "followed the rules" over the gifts, which he received before he was elected a member of parliament in July 2024, and called the report a "hit job."
Cottrell Provided Drivers, Security, and Five-Storey London House
Cottrell, who is involved in a gambling site called Tether.bet that uses the Tether (USDT) stablecoin, provided Farage with drivers and security made up primarily of former soldiers, according to The Guardian. Cottrell also reportedly recruited and paid for three staff members to assist with Farage's social media.
Since the 2024 election, Cottrell has let Farage use a rented five-storey house near Buckingham Palace. A Reform source told The Times that Farage almost always stayed at his own home and did not routinely use the property.
Cottrell has been a close adviser to Farage for more than 10 years.
Cottrell Served Eight Months for Wire Fraud in 2016
In 2016, Cottrell was arrested in the US and charged with 21 offences for his role in a money laundering plot. He pleaded guilty to a single wire fraud charge after a plea deal and served eight months in prison.
Second Undisclosed Crypto Donor Controversy in Two Months
The report marks the second time Farage has faced scrutiny over undisclosed gifts from wealthy figures tied to crypto.
A parliamentary standards watchdog opened an inquiry in May over whether Farage failed to declare a £5 million ($6.7 million) gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, who partly owns stablecoin giant Tether.
Farage argued the gift funded personal security before he was an MP and did not require disclosure. The UK Treasury temporarily banned political donations made in cryptocurrency in March, a move that heightened attention on non-monetary crypto-linked benefits.
Labour MP Reports Farage to Standards Commissioner Over Crypto Lobbying
Labour MP Phil Brickell, who chairs a parliamentary anti-corruption group, reported Farage to the standards commissioner over allegations that the Reform leader lobbied the Bank of England to drop its digital currency plans, The Guardian reported. Brickell said Harborne "stood to benefit from opposition to a state-backed digital currency that could compete with private stablecoins."
Two overlapping gift scandals in eight weeks sharpen a question the standards commissioner now faces: whether Reform UK's pro-crypto legislative agenda is shaped by donor interests. Reform published draft legislation last year with the stated goal of making the UK a global crypto hub.
Farage has proposed cutting crypto capital gains tax from 24% to 10% and called for the Bank of England to create a Bitcoin reserve. The party was also the first UK political party to accept donations in Bitcoin. The outcome of the standards inquiry will test how far existing parliamentary disclosure rules extend to non-monetary benefits from crypto-linked supporters.
FAQ
What gifts did Nigel Farage receive from George Cottrell?
Nigel Farage received drivers, private security made up primarily of former soldiers, three staff members to assist with social media, and access to a rented five-storey house near Buckingham Palace from George Cottrell. Farage registered only one benefit from Cottrell upon entering Parliament: travel, security, and accommodation worth less than £9,300 (approximately $12,400) for an event in Belgium.
Why is Nigel Farage under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner?
A parliamentary standards watchdog opened an inquiry in May over whether Farage failed to declare a £5 million ($6.7 million) gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Labour MP Phil Brickell also reported Farage to the standards commissioner over allegations that Farage lobbied the Bank of England to drop its digital currency plans, with Harborne standing to benefit from opposition to a state-backed digital currency that could compete with private stablecoins.
What is George Cottrell's criminal history?
In 2016, George Cottrell was arrested in the US and charged with 21 offences for his role in a money laundering plot. He pleaded guilty to a single wire fraud charge after a plea deal and served eight months in prison.
