Reform UK成员及脱欧运动人士Arron Banks被指控雇用私家侦探监视《星期日泰晤士报》记者Gabriel Pogrund[1]。据称Banks利用他曾拥有的公司Precision Risk and Intelligence对该记者进行监视[1]。这一举动发生在Pogrund发表关于Reform UK及其领导人Nigel Farage资金来源的系列报道之后[1]。
被问及是否支付了调查费用时，Banks回应称："When you live by the sword, you die by the sword."[1]。他辩称"We believe the Sunday Times used hacked information and that was an area of interest"[1]。但《星期日泰晤士报》否认此指控，该报发言人表示："If what Mr Banks claims to have done is true then it is reprehensible that his reaction to our reporting is to place a journalist under surveillance"[1]。
Pogrund的报道关注了Farage在被选为Clacton MP前12个月内获得的礼物[1]。根据报道，Christopher Harborne向Farage赠予£5m[1]，而George Cottrell向Farage提供了安保、住宿和社交媒体支持[1]。Fiona Cottrell于2024年5月分别向Reform UK转账两笔£250,000，并向Britain Means Business转账£1m[1]。目前Metropolitan Police正在调查Reform UK的财务情况，George和Fiona Cottrell已接受谨慎询问，但尚无逮捕[1]。
Arron Banks, a UK Reform party member and Brexit campaigner, has been accused of hiring a private detective to surveil Gabriel Pogrund, a Sunday Times journalist who reported on Reform UK's funding sources and party leader Nigel Farage's financial dealings [1]. The surveillance allegedly occurred following Pogrund's publication of investigative articles examining the party's financial backing [1].
Banks is said to have engaged Precision Risk and Intelligence, a firm he previously owned, to monitor the reporter [1]. When questioned about whether he paid for the investigation, Banks responded with the statement, "When you live by the sword, you die by the sword" [1]. Banks has claimed that "We believe the Sunday Times used hacked information and that was an area of interest" [1]. However, the Sunday Times rejected this assertion, with a spokesperson stating: "If what Mr Banks claims to have done is true then it is reprehensible that his reaction to our reporting is to place a journalist under surveillance" [1].
The investigation by Pogrund had focused on substantial financial contributions to Farage during the twelve months preceding his election as Member of Parliament for Clacton, including a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne [1]. The reporting also detailed support provided by George Cottrell, who funded security, accommodation, and social media efforts, as well as donations by Fiona Cottrell of £250,000 in two transfers to Reform UK in May 2024 and £1 million to Britain Means Business [1]. The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating Reform UK's finances, with George and Fiona Cottrell having undergone voluntary interviews but facing no arrests to date [1].