Reform UK's Deputy Leader, Richard Tice, has formally requested that the National Crime Agency (NCA) investigate whether the body is responsible for the alleged leaking of his private financial information to the media. Mr Tice stated he only became aware that payments made to his organisations had been flagged to the NCA as part of its Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) programme after being contacted by a national newspaper. Reform UK believes the information obtained by the media likely originated from the NCA itself.
The alleged leaks reportedly concern an £80,000 loan received by Mr Tice's company, Tisun Investment, from George Cottrell in late 2024. Mr Cottrell is understood to be a close ally of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Additionally, a think tank owned by Mr Tice, 'Britain Means Business', received a £1 million donation from Mr Cottrell's mother, Fiona, in June 2024. Electoral Commission data indicates that 'Britain Means Business' subsequently donated £500,000 to Reform UK in the same month.
The NCA's SARs programme is designed to alert law enforcement to potential instances of money laundering. In the 2024/25 period, 866,616 cases were flagged under this programme. While the NCA often shares information from SARs reports with police forces and other organisations involved in investigations, a spokesperson for the agency commented, "The NCA does not confirm or deny the receipt of suspicious activity reports (SARs), nor comment on how any SAR is used. SARs are confidential and breaching that confidentiality risks committing a tipping off offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act."
This request for an investigation by Reform UK comes amid a broader political controversy surrounding George Cottrell. Recent reports indicate that Mr Cottrell provided support to Nigel Farage, including security and social media staff, in the year leading up to his election as an MP. Under parliamentary rules, newly elected MPs are required to declare gifts or benefits received in the 12 months prior to their election that relate to their 'parliamentary or political activities'. However, an exemption exists for gifts and benefits considered 'purely personal'. Reform UK has maintained that Mr Farage did not breach these guidelines, asserting that the support from Mr Cottrell was provided in a "purely personal capacity."
The core of Reform UK's complaint hinges on the principle of confidentiality surrounding financial intelligence. The party argues that if information from SARs has indeed been leaked, it represents a serious breach of trust and potentially a criminal offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This incident could have significant implications for the public's confidence in the handling of sensitive financial data by law enforcement agencies.