Background

Richard Tice is Deputy Leader of Reform UK and MP for Boston and Skegness, a seat he won at the July 2024 general election. He rose to prominence through the Leave Means Leave campaign ahead of the 2016 referendum, co-founded the Brexit Party in 2019, and served as its leader from 2021 to 2023 while Farage was absent from frontline politics. He built his business career in commercial real estate through CLS Holdings and various property investment vehicles.

When the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner opened an investigation in May 2026 into whether Farage failed to declare a £5 million gift from donor Christopher Harborne, Tice publicly defended the arrangement as an "unconditional personal gift" that required no declaration . His defence is central to Reform UK's public position on the Standards inquiry.

In July 2026, banks separately flagged a £1 million transaction from Reform donor Fiona Cottrell to a company Tice runs to the National Crime Agency, citing anti-money-laundering concerns. A bank referral is a compliance report, not a finding of wrongdoing; no charge or allegation has been made against Tice or Cottrell, and the presumption of innocence applies.

Common Questions

Was Richard Tice accused of money laundering?

No. Banks flagged a £1m transaction from donor Fiona Cottrell to a company Tice runs to the National Crime Agency over anti-money-laundering concerns in July 2026. This is a compliance referral, not a finding, and no wrongdoing has been established against Tice.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage

What did Richard Tice say about the Farage £5 million gift?

Tice called it an unconditional personal gift that did not require parliamentary declaration, defending Farage as the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner opened a formal inquiry.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage

What business does Richard Tice run?

Tice built his career in commercial real estate, including as a shareholder and executive at CLS Holdings, a commercial property company.Source: CLS Holdings / Companies House

Who is Richard Tice in Reform UK?

Tice is Deputy Leader of Reform UK and MP for Boston and Skegness. He co-founded the Brexit Party with Farage and led it from 2021 to 2023 before Farage returned.Source: Reform UK / BBC

Was Richard Tice leader of the Brexit Party?

Yes. Tice led the Brexit Party from 2021 to 2023 while Farage stood back from frontline politics; Farage returned and rebranded the party as Reform UK.Source: Electoral Commission / BBC

Source Material

Richard Tice — Wikipedia

How the World Sees Them

Reform UK base

Tice is the party's parliamentary anchor alongside Farage; his defence of the Harborne gift is the party line.

Opposition parties

Point to the Standards inquiry as evidence of a pattern of opaque funding that Tice is actively shielding from scrutiny.

Eastern England voters

Boston and Skegness seat won on immigration and anti-establishment platform; Tice's property wealth sits awkwardly with that image.