Businessman Arron Banks hired private investigators to spy on Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake following Tory calls for an investigation into Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, according to a report by The Mail on Sunday.
Banks, a close associate of Farage, instructed Precision Risk and Intelligence to probe Hollinrake after Conservative officials targeted Reform UK over a £5million political donation. The move follows previous reports that Banks engaged the same firm to investigate journalists examining Farage's financial affairs.
Precision Risk and Intelligence, a private intelligence company previously owned by Banks, developed a reputation for ruthlessness within financial circles. City sources claimed the firm had previously deployed honeytrap stings against senior members of prominent law firms. Although the company was dissolved following Brexit, a source confirmed that the same operatives continue to collaborate on commercial projects, focusing primarily on high-value litigation.
Private intelligence firm
Hollinrake has been at the forefront of Conservative efforts to scrutinize Reform UK funding and key party figures. His parliamentary actions included releasing disclosures regarding the personal finances of deputy leader Richard Tice and senior Farage aide George Cottrell, known as 'Posh George'.
A formal letter submitted by Hollinrake to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner triggered an official probe into a £5million donation provided to Farage by cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Clashes over political finances
Asked if he had hired private investigators to probe Hollinrake, Banks claimed that Conservative headquarters had been targeting Reform leadership. 'Since the local elections in May we have been aware Tory HQ and Mr Hollinrake have been waging a dirty tricks campaign against Nigel,' Banks said. 'Investigations show this was a hit-job on Nigel and Reform as political rivals and elements of the media attempt to destroy Reform.'
Hollinrake rejected allegations of improper conduct and condemned the surveillance tactics. 'The use of private investigators to target journalists and political opponents is sinister and has no place in our politics. There are no 'dirty tricks' here,' Hollinrake said. 'I've been doing my job, asking legitimate questions. We've done exactly the same with Labour over Mandelson, Rayner and others.'
Reactions from political rivals
A spokesman for the Conservative Party called on Reform UK leadership to clarify its role in the private probe. 'This begs the question: on whose authority is Banks acting? We make no apologies for standing up to Reform over Farage's dodgy £5million or his undeclared gifts from George Cottrell,' the spokesman said. 'Reform must come clean about any knowledge they had of this investigation and condemn Banks for this attack on democracy.'
Reform UK was founded as the Brexit Party before rebranding to contest parliamentary elections across Britain. The Conservative Party has increasingly focused scrutiny on Reform's political donations and corporate structure as the two parties compete for right-leaning voters. Representatives for Precision Risk and Intelligence declined to comment.
