Police investigate donations by Richard Tice company to Reform UK

Police are investigating payments to Reform UK by a company controlled by the party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, BBC News has learned. Britain Means Business gave the party two donations of £250,000 in the run-up to the 2024 general election, when Tice was party chairman. Tice has said the money was given to his firm by Fiona Cottrell, a significant donor to Reform UK and mother of a convicted fraudster with close links to Nigel Farage. Tice said: "This is the first I have heard of it - if true why are the Met Police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders?" Earlier this month, the Times newspaper revealed that two donations given directly by Fiona Cottrell to Reform UK in May 2024 were being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. That investigation relates to legislation governing elections, which bans concealing or disguising donations derived from an "impermissible" donor, or the use of "false" information about a donation including the amount or the identity of the donor. The BBC has asked Fiona Cottrell for comment. Britain Means Business,