Reform UK leader Nigel Farace reportedly accepted undeclared gifts from George Cottrell — a convicted fraudster with ties to a crypto casino. That’s according to The Sunday Times.
Cottrell, an aristocrat involved in a site called Tether.bet, allegedly provided Farage with staff, security, drivers, and even a rented five-story house near Buckingham Palace. All before Farage became an MP in July 2024.
Farage says he “followed the rules.” He called the report a hit job.
But here’s the thing: he only registered one benefit from Cottrell with Parliament — under £9,300 for travel, security, and accommodation to attend an event in Belgium. Everything else stayed off the books.
Cottrell’s no stranger to trouble. In 2016, he was arrested in the US on 21 charges related to a money laundering plot. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and served eight months.
This isn’t the first time Farage has faced questions about crypto-linked gifts. In May, a parliamentary watchdog opened an inquiry into whether he failed to declare a £5 million ($6.7M) gift from Tether part-owner Christopher Harborne. Farage says that was for personal security, pre-MP, so no declaration needed.
Meanwhile, Labour MP Phil Brickell has referred Farage to the standards commissioner over alleged crypto lobbying — specifically, claims that Farage pushed the Bank of England to back off its digital currency plans. Brickell says Harborne “stood to benefit” from opposition to a state-backed digital currency.
Farage and Reform have gone all-in on crypto. The party published draft legislation to make the UK “the world’s premier hub for cryptocurrency.” They were the first UK party to accept Bitcoin donations. Farage has also proposed cutting capital gains tax on crypto from 24% to 10% and wants the Bank of England to create a Bitcoin reserve.
Cozy relationships between politicians and deep-pocketed crypto backers keep making headlines. This story’s another chapter.
