Piers Morgan rages ‘Nigel Farage has to go’ over bombshell crisis | Politics | News

Piers Morgan has called for Nigel Farage to be sacked from his role at Reform UK over the non-disclosure of the identity of a major donor. The reform leader failed to disclose that he funded the operation of a convicted criminal and crypto gambler a year before he won the parliamentary seat of Clacton-on-Sea.

Morgan has since made two statements criticizing Farage on social media app X. He wrote: “The plugs keep coming…” Just 40 minutes later he wrote: “He needs to go.” Farage appears to have broken parliamentary rules by accepting accommodation, driver and security costs paid by George Cottrell, a convicted criminal jailed for his role in a US money laundering conspiracy.

According to the report, Farage still benefits from Cottrell’s support. Sunday Times That summed up how the Reform leader was staying in a five-storey mansion rented by the convicted fraudster.

Cottrell has no official role in Reform but insiders who spoke to the Sunday Times described him as Farage’s closest aide. Farage defended his decision not to announce pre-election support, arguing that this was before his decision to run for parliament. He also said he didn’t need to disclose Cottrell’s use of the townhouse because it was provided to him by a close friend.

Cottrell said he expected nothing in return for his support for Farage and did not need the Reform leader’s help. Cottrell is heavily involved in Tether.bet, an offshore online betting company specializing in cryptocurrency transfers. Brokers who made Tether.bet a gambling site for wealthy customers in the UK told customers to put their money into one of two companies.

One of the companies is owned by reform worker Mowbray Jackson, who serves as the party’s data protection officer. David Robery is the owner of the second of the two companies and an advisor to Tether.bet. Robery is said to have lived near Cottrell in Worcestershire. Both men refused to comment to the Sunday Times.

A Reform spokesman said: “Given that the newspaper supported Labor at the last general election, it is no surprise that The Sunday Times chose to publish this baseless and contrived story, which covers a period when Nigel Farage was not an active politician, let alone an elected politician.

“Contrary to the tone of the story, no parliamentary rules were broken. We also understand that The Sunday Times has a new podcast to promote, which it is very excited about. Its agenda should be simple enough for everyone to see.”

The Daily Express has contacted Reform UK for comment.