How Nigel Farage came to rely on a convicted fraudster.
It's July 2016 and a baby-faced British aristocrat called George Cottrell faces arrest in the US, just weeks after he and his boss, Nigel Farage, reach the summit of their careers to date - the Brexit vote.
A decade later ‘Posh George' is still the Reform leader's right-hand man.
This groundbreaking series from The Sunday Times’s Insight team investigates how the politician who could hold the keys to Number 10 came to depend upon a crypto enthusiast, gambler and fraudster.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
As Nigel Farage returns to Parliament with a parliamentary standards investigation hanging over his head, The Sunday Times Insight team are back with the latest developments since the original series was released.
What is a sitting US federal judge doing at George’s penthouse?
Separately, there are more questions for Posh George, Nigel Farage and Reform UK over their finances and relationship.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times
Read more: Revealed - Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal (https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa2fac13-d28c-48ba-b7d2-e4a809155d00?shareToken=9e34c131a6544afc4d4c1452cf6e7eaa) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Watch: Everything you need to know about the aristocrat funding Nigel Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/video/originals/article/watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-aristocrat-funding-nigel-farage-m580xhg6w)
Get in touch:
Call or WhatsApp The Sunday Times’s Insight team: 020 7782 5959
For any tips on this series: insight@sunday-times.co.uk
If you have a story for us: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
15 Jul 2026
‘Daddy’ (Pt 5)
Nigel Farage realises one of his lifelong ambitions, as he becomes an MP, with the help of Posh George.
This leads to questions over George’s financial support for his ally. Did it breach parliamentary rules?
And, the Insight team tries to make sense of Posh George and Farage’s ten-plus year friendship after the fallout from their reporting.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times
Read more: Revealed - Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal (https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa2fac13-d28c-48ba-b7d2-e4a809155d00?shareToken=9e34c131a6544afc4d4c1452cf6e7eaa) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Police investigate Reform donations by mother of fraudster who bankrolled Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/police-investigate-reform-donations-by-mother-of-fraudster-who-bankrolled-farage-3kd826j7h) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Watch: Everything you need to know about the aristocrat funding Nigel Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/video/originals/article/watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-aristocrat-funding-nigel-farage-m580xhg6w)
Get in touch -
Call or WhatsApp The Sunday Times’s Insight team: 020 7782 5959
For any tips on this series: insight@sunday-times.co.uk
If you have a story for us: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com (mailto:investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
12 Jul 2026
Crypto politics (Pt 4)
In 2023 Posh George is accused of wading into Montenegro elections after police seize a crypto ATM.
As negative headlines in the Balkans pile up, Farage, back on the campaign trail in the UK, is once again facing questions over his friend’s alleged behaviour.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times
Read more: Revealed - Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal (https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa2fac13-d28c-48ba-b7d2-e4a809155d00?shareToken=9e34c131a6544afc4d4c1452cf6e7eaa) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
George Cottrell failed to declare gifts to Reform office (https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/posh-george-cottrell-broke-law-undisclosed-donations-reform-fr7z6dzp8)by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Watch: Everything you need to know about the aristocrat funding Nigel Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/video/originals/article/watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-aristocrat-funding-nigel-farage-m580xhg6w)
Get in touch:
Call or WhatsApp The Sunday Times’s Insight team: 020 7782 5959
For any tips on this series: insight@sunday-times.co.uk (mailto:insight@sunday-times.co.uk)
If you have a story for us: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com (mailto:investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
8 Jul 2026
Control, not ownership (Pt 3)
Back home after 8 months in a US prison, Posh George attends a rally where the controversial, far-right provocateur Tommy Robinson is speaking - and starts dating a Made in Chelsea star.
Having already made and lost at least one fortune, George moves to the crypto paradise of Montenegro.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times
Read more: Revealed - Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal (https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa2fac13-d28c-48ba-b7d2-e4a809155d00?shareToken=9e34c131a6544afc4d4c1452cf6e7eaa) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Nigel Farage’s secret donor pictured with Tommy Robinson at rally (https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/farages-secret-donor-pictured-with-tommy-robinson-at-rally-2cmxh20x8) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Watch: Everything you need to know about the aristocrat funding Nigel Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/video/originals/article/watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-aristocrat-funding-nigel-farage-m580xhg6w)
Get in touch:
Call or WhatsApp The Sunday Times’s Insight team: 020 7782 5959
For any tips on this series: insight@sunday-times.co.uk (mailto:insight@sunday-times.co.uk)
If you have a story for us: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com (mailto:investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
5 Jul 2026
Jailbird (Pt 2)
It’s July 2016 and Nigel Farage is riding high on a Brexit wave when his young aide, Posh George is arrested following a sting by US federal agents.
He’s accused of running a money laundering scheme over the dark web. Can the young financier escape a jail term and rebuild his gilded life?
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times
Read more: Revealed - Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal (https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa2fac13-d28c-48ba-b7d2-e4a809155d00?shareToken=9e34c131a6544afc4d4c1452cf6e7eaa)by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Nigel Farage’s crypto-gambler ally used Reform UK business cards (https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/george-cottrell-reform-uk-cards-nigel-farage-sthgmkvwk) by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Watch: Everything you need to know about the aristocrat funding Nigel Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/video/originals/article/watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-aristocrat-funding-nigel-farage-m580xhg6w)
Get in touch:
Call or WhatsApp The Sunday Times’s Insight team: 020 7782 5959
For any tips on this series: insight@sunday-times.co.uk (mailto:insight@sunday-times.co.uk)
If you have a story for us: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com (mailto:investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Jul 2026
Meet George (Pt 1)
Who is George Swinfen Cottrell, aka Posh George? Booted out of his expensive boarding school after gambling in 2010, he comes of age in London’s Mayfair district, learning the tricks of his trade in international finance, private banking, and offshore structures.
George is soon drawn into the orbit of UKIP leader, Nigel Farage.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times
Read more: Revealed - Nigel Farage secretly funded by convicted criminal (https://www.thetimes.com/article/aa2fac13-d28c-48ba-b7d2-e4a809155d00?shareToken=9e34c131a6544afc4d4c1452cf6e7eaa)by Gabriel Pogrund, Venetia Menzies, Emanuele Midolo & George Greenwood
Watch: Everything you need to know about the aristocrat funding Nigel Farage (https://www.thetimes.com/video/originals/article/watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-aristocrat-funding-nigel-farage-m580xhg6w)
Get in touch:
Call or WhatsApp The Sunday Times’s Insight team: 020 7782 5959
For any tips on this series: insight@sunday-times.co.uk (mailto:insight@sunday-times.co.uk)
If you have a story for us: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com (mailto:investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Jul 2026
Introducing | Posh George: The criminal behind Farage
A baby-faced British aristocrat called George Cottrell faces arrest in the US, just weeks after he and his boss, Nigel Farage, reach the summit of their careers to date - the Brexit vote.
A decade later ‘Posh George' is still the Reform leader's right-hand man.
This groundbreaking series from The Sunday Times’s Insight team investigates how the politician who could hold the keys to Number 10 came to depend upon a crypto enthusiast, gambler and fraudster.
Both George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Host: Gabriel Pogrund, editor of Insight at The Sunday Times.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Contact Posh George: The criminal behind Farage
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