Nigel Farage's spokesman has denied fresh allegations that the Reform UK leader may have broken parliamentary rules by failing to declare benefits provided by an ally. Reports suggest that George Cottrell, a long-standing ally of Farage, supplied support including security and social media staff who worked on Farage's online content in the year before he was elected as an MP.

The allegations, reported by The Sunday Times, also claim Farage used a property rented by Cottrell, who has a previous fraud conviction in the US, located near Buckingham Palace. This comes as Farage is already facing a separate parliamentary investigation into a £5 million gift from a Reform UK donor that was not registered.

Farage's team has argued that the support from Cottrell, described as "in-kind" or non-cash benefits, was provided during a period when Farage was not an active politician and therefore did not need to be declared under parliamentary rules. They have made a similar argument regarding the previously reported £5 million gift, stating it was intended for personal security and was not political because it was received when he was not involved in politics.

Under parliamentary rules, new MPs are required to declare financial interests and registrable benefits received in the 12 months preceding their election. While purely personal gifts or benefits are generally exempt from registration, the extent of Cottrell's alleged support and its nature are central to the current allegations.

Cottrell, 32, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the US in 2017. Farage served as Reform UK's honorary president between March 2021 and June 2024, before returning as party leader and standing in the general election. He was elected as the MP for Clacton in July 2024.

A spokesman for Farage dismissed the reports, stating, "It comes as no surprise that the Sunday Times has chosen to publish this baseless and contrived story, covering a period of time when Nigel Farage was not even an active politician let alone an elected one." The spokesman added, "Contrary to the story's tone, no parliamentary rules have been broken."

However, a source indicated that Reform UK paid for Farage's security and staff after his return to politics and denied that Farage received accommodation from Cottrell, asserting the MP did not stay at the London property. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is currently investigating the £5 million gift from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne.

Farage has maintained that the £5 million from Harborne was for his personal security and was entirely private. A spokesperson for the Labour Party commented on the allegations, stating, "Nigel Farage and Reform are engulfed in a huge and growing scandal. These new allegations of secret payments from a wealthy convicted criminal are on top of the ongoing scandal of his secret £5m gift from a crypto billionaire."