Richard Tice slams BBC over 'disgusting hit piece' on police investigation into donations made by his company to Reform UK

Richard Tice has slammed the BBC over a “disgusting hit piece” into a police investigation of donations made by his company to Reform UK.

The BBC has claimed that police are investigating Britain Means Business, a company which made two party donations to Reform UK of £250,000 in the run-up to the 2024 general election, when Mr Tice was party chairman.

In response, Mr Tice said on X: “The BBC are running a disgraceful hit piece against me & will be hearing from my lawyers.

“It appears to be carefully coordinated & politically motivated within an hour of yet another Sunday Times story against Reform.

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“Is it a coincidence the Met leadership are briefing against me to the BBC, just after we have confirmed our legal action against the NCA over their possible multiple criminal offences?

“No one has ever been in touch with me on this matter except the BBC today!

“The Establishment are playing dirtier than ever to try to smear & discredit Reform leaders.”

Mr Tice told the BBC: “This is the first I have heard of it - if true why are the Met Police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders?”

Mr Tice has said the donations were given to the company by Fiona Cottrell, a significant donor to Reform UK and mother to convicted fraudster George Cottrell.

Britain Means Business is a company solely owned and controlled by Mr Tice and received £1million from Ms Cottrell in June 2024.

The Electoral Commission shows that the company then donated £500,000 to Reform UK in the same month.

The BBC claims that those payments are part of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police into donations to Reform UK.

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A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform takes pride in its stringent vetting of donations and always ensures that the Electoral Commission guidelines on donations, as set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, are strictly followed, as has been the case with donations so far.”

A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said it was aware of a statement made by the Met about an ongoing police investigation and it had no further comment to make.

The BBC has also stated that the Met’s investigation into the donations received by Reform UK has been ongoing for over a year.

A Met spokesman said: "An investigation was launched in February 2025 after a referral was made to the Metropolitan Police by the Electoral Commission relating to donations made to a political party ahead of the 2024 UK General Election."

They added: "Detectives from the Met's Special Enquiry Team are investigating alleged offences under Section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

"Early investigative advice has been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service and two people have so far been interviewed under caution. No arrests have been made.

"An offence under this section is not one that the Electoral Commission can investigate and, as such, it is a matter for the police."

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