WATCHDOG DROPS TICE LOAN COMPLAINT – Standards commissioner declines to investigate Reform deputy leader
Parliament’s standards watchdog has declined to investigate a complaint against Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, over an undeclared loan of almost £80,000 linked to Nigel Farage’s adviser, George Cottrell.
The complaint, submitted by the Liberal Democrats, alleged Mr Tice may have breached parliamentary rules by failing to declare the loan, arguing it was provided on favourable terms and that Mr Cottrell’s tax residency could raise questions over whether he was a permissible donor.
However, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said there was insufficient evidence to justify opening an investigation into a potential breach of the MPs’ Code of Conduct.
Mr Tice has maintained the money was a corporate loan made to one of his property companies rather than to him personally, and therefore did not need to be declared. The transaction, worth £78,100, was reportedly flagged to the National Crime Agency by bankers under anti-money laundering rules because it involved a serving MP and funds from Mr Cottrell, who was convicted of wire fraud in the United States in 2017.
