Businessman and Reform UK backer Arron Banks commissioned a private intelligence firm to investigate Conservative party chair Kevin Hollinrake. This follows previous reports that Banks had also paid for an investigation into a prominent journalist.
Banks, a former Reform UK candidate, appeared to confirm on Sunday that he was behind an investigation into Hollinrake. The Mail on Sunday first reported the use of private investigators, stating Banks had used Precision Risk and Intelligence, a firm he previously owned.
Hollinrake, as party chair, has led the Conservatives’ response to revelations concerning Nigel Farage’s finances. He addressed Banks on social media, suggesting the investigation followed calls for scrutiny of Reform UK's finances. In a reply on X, Banks stated: “I’ve always come across people in this world who like to give it but can’t receive it.”
Banks suggested he acted alone, stating: “I row my own boat,” when asked if Reform knew about the surveillance. These developments follow earlier reports in the New Statesman that Banks had commissioned Precision Risk to investigate Gabriel Pogrund, the investigations editor of the Sunday Times.
The News Media Association (NMA) raised concerns, describing the use of private investigators to deter journalists as an “attack on our democracy.” Theo Bamber, the NMA's chief executive, said such attempts to deter journalistic inquiry must not become normalised.
A Labour spokesperson commented that these reports raise further questions about those funding Reform and Nigel Farage.