Why is no one talking about Farage's £5 million gift/bribe?

[Firetreev]

The right wing press had kittens about Starmer receiving some free glasses, yet are shtum about Farage receiving £5 million in the twelve months prior to him becoming an MP. No one gives someone £5 million pounds. Farage is bought and paid for by a shifty, Thailand based billionaire. Why don't voters and the media care?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/29/revealed-nigel-farage-was-given-undisclosed-5m-by-crypto-billionaire-in-2024?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

It's a difficult balancing act I admit - nevertheless, any attack on Labour is a bonus.

2013 according to all the media reports.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/10/louise-haigh-pleaded-guilty-to-lying-that-phone-was-stolen-paper-shows

I must have missed the attack on Labour Louise Haigh whataboutery is just that.

£5m and now undeclared benefits from a convicted criminal

I do know what a conviction is. We have no idea whether Cottrell would have been found guilty on the other charges if a trial had taken place.

The net closing in…?

Oh, I think we do.

There’s a world of difference between mistakenly reporting a phone as stolen after being mugged and later finding it, and being caught by the FBI in a sting operation agreeing to launder money.

Ta for that link to the 2-year-old Guardian article, Clav.

The more I read about Cottrell, the more opaque the sources of his money seem.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/03/george-cottrell-nigel-farage-reform-uk-montenegro

His lawyers said in 2024 that he didn't have access to family money, "but has made his considerable wealth by working since the age of 17".

His ex-girlfriend says he lost £16m at a poker game in Montenegro, and he has admitted to having a gambling problem as a youth.

So even after his US conviction he appears to have inordinate amounts of cash to splash, and be heavily involved in gambling (famously convenient for laundering money, should one be that way inclined).

The business he registered in Montenegro, named Private Family Office, was set up in the name of "George Co" rather than Cottrell.

It's all a bit murky.

Yes, that is an important question.

2013 according to all the media reports

BBC
'She said she pleaded guilty to making a false report to police at magistrates' court six months before becoming an MP in the 2015 election'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2l95750v08o

You do know that it’s often months before a case comes to court? Of course you do, you’re just being contrarian for the sake of it as usual.

mistakenly reporting a phone as stolen

I think we all know it wasn't a mistake

Where exactly are you looking/listening? It was on BBC all day yesterday, further discussion today, I'm sure it was also on Itv news yesterday, though it could have been Channel 4. I've been aware of it for a long time and this current discussion is actually a re-emergence. His story has "evolved" over this time.

https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/04/02/posh-george-cottrell/

Some interesting snppets about what was in the court documents

I'm not being contrarian. The police called Louise Haigh in for questioning after she switched on the original work phone, which had a tracker. She said this was 'some time' after she had reported the original phone stolen - this could easily have been some months later, therefore 2014.

It was a work phone and would have had controls on it by her employer IT. What benefit would there be to falsely reporting it as stolen 🤷‍♀️

Even if you aren’t convinced, you can’t compare that to multi million dollar money laundering.

So the crime was committed in 2013.

So she’s stupid as well as dishonest

but irrelevant to the thread - George cottrell was barely out of his teens when he started funding farage and making large sums of money. And now farage is claiming it’s all an establishment stitch up. He’s lost it.

Agree 100% - as do a large number of folk where I live and work. Mostly professionals. It's astonishing how presumptuous some people are, about the intelligence and demographic of many people supporting Reform. Uncontrolled immigration is the #1 issue, along with the economy.

https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/54552-what-do-britons-see-as-the-top-issues-locally-ahead-of-2026-local-mayoral-and-devolved-elections

Roads and the economy/cost of living are most concerning for all voters of major parties, except Reform UK

Asked to pick up to three ‘most important’ issues in their local area, roads, including potholes, parking, and congestion (37%), as well as the economy/cost of living (35%), are most likely to top the public’s lists.

Following in third place are NHS GP and hospital services/facilities, at 29%.

I didn't spot any snippets regarding your claim that Cottrell was guilty of extortion or blackmail.

Yes, indeed, the coverage is slowly growing.

As for MN... this thread started two months ago and has reached the grand total of 170-odd posts.

Farage's funky finances seem to be something a lot of posters just don't want to talk about.

Really very different from the shouty threads rammed with brand new usernames which reach 1000 posts within the day.

What nonsense. The Times has covered this many times since it happened.
Today Sunday Times it is front page and a photo of George who has provided security.
Inside there is another pic of The £5 million donor and George with Farage at a restaurant.
What else do you want.

You think there is no issue with a convicted criminal funding Farage

Cottrell faced 20 years in jail for 21 counts related to money laundering, fraud, blackmail and extortion.

'Posh George': Who is aristocrat and convicted criminal at heart of Farage controversy? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzzw5vk8vo