Reform UK denies Nigel Farage breached rules as he's referred to watchdog over undeclared benefits

A party spokesman noted the allegations related to a period 'when Nigel Farage was not even an active politician, let alone an elected one'

Reform UK has denied Nigel Farage breached parliamentary rules after a report claims he failed to declare some benefits.

A spokesman for the Reform leader dismissed the allegations as "baseless and contrived".

According to the claims of the report, the Reform leader received security services, social media support and accommodation from George Cottrell in the year before he was elected as Clacton MP in 2024.

A spokesman for Mr Farage said: "Contrary to the story's tone, no parliamentary rules have been broken."

Mr Cottrell, described as a long-standing ally of Mr Farage, served eight months in a US prison after admitting wire fraud in 2017 and now operates in the cryptocurrency sector.

Reform UK suggested the Sunday Times report had published the story because it "backed the Labour Party at the last general election", noting the allegations related to a period "when Nigel Farage was not even an active politician, let alone an elected one".

Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde has written to standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg requesting an investigation into the allegations, raising the possibility of a second probe into gifts received by the Reform leader.

In a letter published on X, Mr Babarinde said: "Given the value and nature of the support described, there is a serious question as to whether Mr Farage met his obligations under the Code of Conduct for MPs."

Mr Farage is already under investigation by Greenberg over whether he should have declared a £5million donation from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne that he received before entering parliament.

If found to have seriously breached disclosure rules, Mr Farage could face a Commons suspension, with a suspension of ten days or more potentially triggering a recall petition and by-election in Clacton.

Mr Cottrell was sentenced to eight months in prison in 2017 after admitting to one count of wire fraud following an FBI sting operation.

He had initially faced indictment on 21 offences, including money laundering, after advertising money-laundering services on the dark web under the alias "Bill", claiming he could move criminal proceeds, including drug money.

In his plea agreement, Mr Cottrell admitted he intended to retain the money rather than launder it.

He was arrested at Chicago airport whilst returning to Britain with Mr Farage from the Republican convention.

The 32-year-old aristocrat, known as "Posh George", first became involved with Ukip as a volunteer in the run-up to the Brexit referendum and reportedly remains a close adviser to Mr Farage.

Mr Cottrell now works in cryptocurrency, operating as a crypto-gambling entrepreneur involved in offshore bookmaker Tether.bet.

Labour has accused Farage and Reform of being "engulfed in a huge and growing scandal", with a party spokesperson warning it would not "go away" despite attempts to dismiss concerns.

The spokesperson said: "Nigel Farage and Reform are engulfed in a huge and growing scandal. It’s not going to go away, and trying to take the public for fools by saying it’s ‘none of your business’ won’t help.

"These new allegations of secret payments from a wealthy convicted criminal are on top of the ongoing scandal of his secret £5million gift from a crypto billionaire. How much money has he been given, what did his donors get in return, and why has he tried to cover them up and avoid legitimate questions?

"Time and again Mr Farage pretends to be on the side of working people. In reality he's just in it for himself and can be bought by the highest bidder. He's completely unfit for high office."

Deputy Leader Lucy Powell said Farage had either "mistakenly, completely misunderstood the rules, or has deliberately misunderstood the rules" on declaration and transparency.

Health Secretary James Murray told the BBC Mr Farage "seems to have a bit of a flexible relationship with transparency".

However, in his defence, Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick insisted "there’s nothing to see here" about the Cottrell revelations, and insisted Mr Farage is "not going anywhere".