Farage denies breaking rules after reports of undeclared benefits from ally

Farage denies breaking rules after reports of undeclared benefits from allyImage source, ReutersByNick EardleyPublished3 minutes agoNigel Farage's spokesman has denied fresh allegations the Reform UK leader may have broken parliamentary rules - after reports the MP had failed to declare benefits from an ally convicted of fraud in the US.The Sunday Times says George Cottrell provided support, external including security and social media staff who worked on Farage's online content in the year before he was elected. It also claims Farage used a property rented by Cottrell near Buckingham Palace.Farage is already facing a parliamentary probe over a £5m gift from a billionaire Reform UK donor which was not registered. He has argued that money was for personal security and was not political because it was received when he was not involved in politics.His team have made a similar argument for why the "in kind" - non-cash - benefits allegedly from Cottrell were not registered.Cottrell, 32, who admitted a count of wire fraud in the United States in 2017, is a long-standing ally of Farage.Farage served as Reform's honorary president between March 2021 and June 2024. On 3 June 2024, he confirmed he was returning as party leader and standing in the general election. He became Clacton MP in July 2024.Under parliamentary rules, new MPs must declare financial interests and "registrable benefits" received in the 12 months before their election.The guidelines say purely personal gifts or benefits do not need to be registered.When he became an MP, Farage registered a £9,253 trip to Belgium in April 2024 donated by Cottrell, and later added a £15,276 donation from Cottrell for a US domestic flight he provided in December 2024. No other support from Cottrell is listed in the Register of Members' Financial Interests., externalA spokesman for Farage said: "It comes as no surprise that the Sunday Times has chosen to publish this baseless and co...