Farage rejected the broken rules after the benefits from the partnership were not disclosed

A spokesman for Nigel Farage has denied fresh allegations that the Reform UK leader may have broken parliamentary rules – after the MP reported he failed to declare benefits from a partner convicted of fraud. US.

of The Sunday Times says George Cottrell has backed it., External Including security and social media staff who worked on Farage’s online content before he was elected. Farage also used a property rented by Cottrell near Buckingham Palace.

Farage faces a parliamentary inquiry into an unregistered £5m gift from a billionaire Reform UK donor. He argued that the money was for personal security and not political because he received it when he was not involved in politics.

His team made a similar argument as to why the “in-kind” — non-cash — benefits allegedly owed to Cottrell were not recorded.

In the year Cottrell, 32, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the United States in 2017, is a long-time ally of Farage.

Farage served as Honorary President of Reform between March 2021 and June 2024. On 3 June 2024, he confirmed his return as party leader and stood in the general election. Clacton became MP in July 2024.

Under the Parliamentary Act, new MPs must declare their financial interests and “recordable benefits” in the 12 months prior to their election.

The guidelines state that personal gifts or benefits do not need to be recorded.

During his time as an MP, Farage added a £9,253 trip to Belgium in April 2024, which was donated by Cottrell, and later a £15,276 gift from Cottrell for a US domestic flight in December 2024. Register members’ financial needs., External

A spokesman for Farage said: “Given that the newspaper supported the Labor Party at the last general election, it is no surprise that the Sunday Times chose to publish this baseless and fabricated story, covering a period when even Nigel Farage was not an active politician or an elected politician.

Reform has paid for Farage’s security and staff since he returned to politics, he said.

The source denied Farage had obtained accommodation from Cottrell, saying the MP had not stayed at the London property.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is currently investigating whether Farage broke the rules over a £5m gift from British cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harbor in early 2024.

Farage said he gave Harbor the money to pay for his personal security, adding that the gift was “purely personal” and “not political in any way”.

A Labor Party spokesman said: “Nigel Farage and Reform are embroiled in a huge and growing scandal.”

“Among these new charges against a wealthy criminal who has been convicted is a mysterious $5m gift from a crypto billionaire. How much money was given, what did the donors get in return, and why did he try to cover it up and avoid the real questions?”