What to know as police probe 'donations by Richard Tice's company to Reform'

The Metropolitan Police is understood to have launched a probe into high-value donations to Reform UK by a company controlled by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice.

Police are investigating two payments of £250,000 each from Britain Means Business before the 2024 general election.

It comes after the Sunday Times reported earlier this month that £500,000 worth of direct donations to Reform from aristocrat Fiona Cottrell were being investigated by the Met over alleged donation offences.

Fiona is the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell, who is thought to have been bankrolling Nigel Farage behind the scenes for years.

Now, the BBC has learned two donations from Tice’s firm are also under investigation, with Tice saying the money was donated to the company by Fiona Cottrell.