Farage says he followed the rules after claims over support from ally George Cottrell

Nigel Farage has denied wrongdoing after reports claimed he failed to declare benefits provided by a long-standing ally who was once convicted of fraud in the United States.

The Reform UK leader said he had “done no wrongdoing” and insisted he had followed the rules. He also accused critics of carrying out an “establishment hit job” against him and said he was considering legal action against The Sunday Times, which first reported the claims.

The Farage undeclared benefits row centres on George Cottrell, a 32-year-old ally of the Reform leader. The Sunday Times reported that Cottrell’s support included security, social media staff and the use of a property he rented near Buckingham Palace.

Farage’s team has argued that the alleged support did not need to be registered because it was personal and took place before he became the MP for Clacton in July 2024.

Parliamentary rules say new MPs must register financial interests and registrable benefits received during the 12 months before their election. However, the rules also state that purely personal gifts or benefits do not need to be registered.

That distinction now sits at the centre of the Farage undeclared benefits controversy. Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde has asked the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate the matter. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said Farage needed to be straight with the British people about who controls him.

Farage is already facing a separate parliamentary probe over a £5m gift from billionaire Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne. He has argued that the money did not need to be declared because he received it before becoming an MP and because it was not political.

The new allegations have placed further pressure on Farage’s financial disclosures. When he entered Parliament, he registered a £9,253 trip to Belgium in April 2024 donated by Cottrell. He later added a £15,276 donation from Cottrell for a US domestic flight provided in December 2024.

No other support from Cottrell is listed in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

Cottrell has been close to Farage for years. He was involved with Farage’s former party Ukip as a volunteer before the Brexit referendum. In 2017, he was jailed in the US after pleading guilty to wire fraud. He had admitted attempting to defraud criminals on the dark web by posing as a money launderer.

The Farage undeclared benefits row also prompted criticism from Labour peer Baroness Harman, who formerly chaired the House of Commons Committee on Standards. She said the rules exist to give the public trust and confidence in Parliament and MPs.

Harman questioned Farage’s decision to attack the process as an establishment plot. She suggested he should instead say the rules are important, promise to comply with them and cooperate with any investigation.

The allegations come as Farage remains one of the most closely watched figures in British politics. He stepped down as Reform UK leader in 2021 and later served as honorary president. In June 2024, he confirmed his return as party leader and announced he would stand in the general election. He became MP for Clacton the following month.

Farage has rejected the claims and framed the row as a politically motivated attack on Reform UK. His opponents say the issue is about transparency, not party rivalry.

For now, the question is whether the standards commissioner will examine the latest claims. Until then, the Farage undeclared benefits row leaves the Reform leader facing another public test over money, influence and the rules that govern MPs.