Farage Faces Questions Over Undeclared Gifts From Fraud Convict
Nigel Farage did not declare gifts from George Cottrell. Cottrell is a crypto businessman convicted of fraud.
Farage accepted staff, security and accommodation from Cottrell. He did not report these to parliament.
Cottrell pleaded guilty to wire fraud in 2017. He had offered to launder money for US federal agents.
He spent eight months in prison. Reform UK's Robert Jenrick said the gifts were personal.
Jenrick said they were given before Farage became a member of parliament. Reform UK says no rules were broken.
But this is not Farage's first undeclared-benefits controversy. He is already being investigated over a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Parliament rules say members must declare benefits over £300 received before their election.
Key Terms 5
- George Cottrell Crypto businessman convicted of fraud in the United States
- wire fraud A US crime involving deception using electronic communications
- launder money Hide where illegal money came from to make it seem legal
- Robert Jenrick Reform UK's economic spokesperson who defended Farage
- parliamentary standards investigation Official check on whether a member of parliament broke conduct rules