Nigel Farage threatened a Sky News journalist live on air, accusing the broadcaster of harassing his family over claims about financial support from convicted criminal George Cottrell. The Reform MP, returning from Independence Day celebrations in Washington, approached Sky cameras and said: 'You tell your bosses, you harass my family anymore. I’ll take these serious consequences. That’s what your organisation has done this morning. Go away.'
Farage's Accusations Against Sky News
When asked whether it was a 'mistake to accept the gifts,' Farage replied: 'Do you not hear me? You have broken all the rules, Levenson, and everything else.' Sky News has since stated that it has not contacted anyone from Farage’s family about the story.
Claims About Financial Support from George Cottrell
The incident follows reports that Farage accepted staff, security, and accommodation from convicted fraudster George Cottrell in the year before he won the Clacton seat and became an MP. Cottrell, 32, admitted wire fraud in the US in 2017 and previously volunteered for UKIP during the Brexit referendum campaign. The Sunday Times reports that Cottrell recruited and paid three staff members to work on Farage’s social media before the 2024 general election, and that Farage used a property rented by Cottrell near Buckingham Palace.
Reform UK's Response
Reform denies any funding rules were broken. On Sunday, the party’s treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the support did not need to be registered because it was provided in a 'purely personal capacity' prior to Farage’s election. Jenrick said: 'You’re allowed to accept a gift, support, whatever you want to call it, from a personal friend before you’re a member of parliament, if it’s in a purely personal capacity. When you’re a news presenter and you’ve just been on the jungle [in the TV programme I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!], you do create social media content that’s nothing to do with his job as a member of parliament, because he wasn’t a member of parliament.'
Farage Claims 'Establishment Hit Job'
Farage claimed he is the victim of an 'establishment hit job.' In a statement, he said: 'I have done no wrongdoing, followed the rules and I am now considering legal action against The Sunday Times. It’s now clear the establishment will stop at nothing to hurt Reform – we want to smash their cosy consensus.' Calls continue for a parliamentary standards inquiry into the contributions Cottrell made to Farage.
