Bolton MP raises Farage finance concerns in Commons

Bolton West MP Phil Brickell challenged ministers in the House of Commons, as Labour called on the Electoral Commission to investigate whether financial support provided to Mr Farage should have been declared.

Mr Brickell spoke during a Commons statement on strengthening political donations and foreign lobbying rules.

Phil Brickell said: “Given the weekend’s newspapers were awash with stories about the Honourable Member for Clacton’s financial interests, what assurances can the Minister provide me that the measures the Government is introducing will prevent people such as George Cottrell, convicted in the US of wire fraud, who we know has provided thousands of pounds worth of benefits.

“Or Bendello, who has been convicted for flouting American anti money laundering rules, yet has donated £4 million to Reform.

“From being able to pump tens of millions of pounds into British politics?”

The question came after Labour wrote to the Electoral Commission urging it to investigate reports that Cottrell, a long-time ally of Mr Farage, provided funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected to Parliament.

Labour has also questioned whether Mr Cottrell, who is based in Montenegro, was a permissible donor and whether the reported support should have been declared under parliamentary and electoral rules.

Mr Farage has denied any wrongdoing and said he followed the rules.

Phil speaking out in the commons. (Image: Parliament)

Responding to Mr Brickell, a minister said: “The reporting in The Sunday Times was clearly concerning for all of us in the House, and what I would say is that there are a number of agencies that I have set out in my statement earlier who deal with the regulation, the enforcement, and the potential legal action that may be necessary in cases that involve illegal behaviour.

“I’m sure that those organisations will be paying very close attention to the media reports over the weekend.”

The reports concern claims that Mr Cottrell recruited and paid three members of staff to work on Mr Farage’s social media before the 2024 General Election and continued to allow him to use a property near Buckingham Palace.

The Liberal Democrats have separately called for Parliament’s Standards Commissioner to investigate the reported support.

(Image: PA)

Parliament’s Standards Commissioner is already investigating whether Mr Farage should have registered an undisclosed £5 million gift from businessman Christopher Harborne.

Mr Farage has rejected the allegations nationally, saying: “I have done no wrongdoing, followed the rules and I am now considering legal action against The Sunday Times.

“It’s now clear the establishment will stop at nothing to hurt Reform.

“We want to smash their cosy consensus.”

The Reform UK leader has repeatedly said he was not required to register the reported gift because it was personal rather than connected to his parliamentary activities.