Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and his deputy Richard Tice have initiated legal action against the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA), alleging an illegal leak of their financial information. The pair lodged papers at the High Court, seeking damages exceeding £25,000.
The lawsuit stems from media reports concerning bank transactions that were flagged to the NCA under its suspicious activity reporting program. Farage and Tice contend that the NCA was the sole entity in possession of all the information that was subsequently leaked.
According to court documents, the claim alleges that "one or more officers or staff members of the National Crime Agency disclosed to one or more journalists the fact that one or more Suspicious Activity Reports had been filed in respect of transfers of money involving the Claimant." The NCA is conducting an internal investigation into the matter but has not yet admitted liability.
In separate legal filings, the Reform UK leaders are reportedly demanding that the NCA acknowledge responsibility for the disclosure, pay damages, and reveal the identities of the individuals to whom the information was shared. Tice stated that the agency has had ample time to conclude its investigation and is now delaying the process, expressing that they have "had enough."
Recent revelations about Farage and Tice's finances preceded Farage's resignation as the Member of Parliament for Clacton, which triggered a by-election scheduled for Thursday. The reporting on these financial matters has occurred amidst other controversies, including criticism directed at Reform UK from anti-Semitism groups concerning alleged 'smears' by a co-founder suggesting Farage had been influenced by Jewish supporters. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice attends a press conference in Westminster, London, on August 6.
Nigel Farage and Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice are suing the National Crime Agency.
