'Posh George': Who is aristocrat and convicted criminal at heart of Farage controversy?

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: 'Posh George': Who is aristocrat and convicted criminal at heart of Farage controversy? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, George Cottrell (far left) with Nigel Farage on the night of the Brexit referendum in 2016ByGeorge WrightPublished25 minutes agoUntil Saturday night, little was known about the relationship between Nigel Farage and convicted criminal George Cottrell. Now, the 32-year-old aristocrat is at the centre of the latest controversy surrounding the Reform UK leader, after Farage reportedly failed to declare benefits provided by the man known as "Posh George".

The Sunday Times reports that Cottrell supplied support, external including security and social media staff who worked on Farage's online content in the year before he became an MP. Under parliamentary rules, new members must declare financial interests and "registrable benefits" received in the 12 months before their election. Reform says no rules have been broken; its Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick told the that the support did not need to be registered since it was provided in a "purely personal capacity" prior to Farage's election.

The Details

Who is Cottrell, the long-time Farage ally and reported cryptocurrency entrepreneur once convicted of fraud in the US? Reform denies rules broken by Farage after benefits from ally not declared Published3 hours agoBorn in Gloucester in October 1993, Cottrell's mother, the Honourable Fiona Cottrell, is an aristocrat whose father, the third Baron Manton, inherited a family soap empire, the Sunday Times reports. Cottrell reportedly left education without levels after being expelled from Malvern College in Worcestershire due to a "gambling addiction".

It is not clear when he became close with Farage, but Cottrell volunteered for him in an Essex by-election in 2015 and was rewarded with a role as Ukip's head of fundraising, aged 22. In 2016, they were together on the day of the Brexit referendum. A month later, Cottrell was arrested in the US as he and Farage were preparing to return to the UK after the Republican convention, where Farage had spoken at a rally in support of Donald Trump.

Cottrell had been caught agreeing to launder money for undercover agents posing as drug traffickers in an FBI sting operation. Farage said at the time that he was surprised by what had happened and had "never had any suspicions" about Cottrell. He said he could not be held responsible for "what everyone around me does".

What Experts Say

Cottrell faced 20 years in jail for 21 counts related to money laundering, fraud, blackmail and extortion. But he eventually brokered a plea deal, admitted guilt to a charge of wire fraud and ended up serving just eight months in prison. In the plea bargain, Cottrell said: "I falsely claimed that I would launder the criminal proceeds through my bank accounts for a fee.

"He claimed that rather than launder the money, he and an associate planned on keeping it themselves.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.