There have been more claims about Reform UK and its finances. In fact, it has become so complicated that it’s easy to forget party leader Nigel Farage has a byelection battle on his hands.

A £5 million undeclared gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne was the catalyst for Farage’s resignation as MP for Clacton – which sparked the byelection. Many observers thought his resignation was a bid to pre-empt a ruling from the parliamentary standards commissioner.

Farage has denied this, but has now suggested to journalists that he should perhaps have “filled in a piece of paper” in connection with the money.

Read more: Five questions over Nigel Farage’s £5 million donation

Separate to this, police are reportedly investigating £500,000 given to the party by the mother of convicted fraudster and long-time Farage associate George Cottrell in the lead-up to the 2024 election. They are also said to be investigating £500,000 in donations from Britain Means Business – a company owned by Reform MP Richard Tice – made following a £1 million payment to the company from Fiona Cottrell.

It has now been reported that Cottrell made transfers totalling more than US$2 million (£1.49 million) to his mother just days before she donated to both Reform and Britain Means Business.

The police investigations relate to a potential breach of electoral law – the offence of attempting to evade the restrictions on donations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

The specific sections of the act concern permissibility, or who is allowed to give money to political parties.........

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