Reform UK leaders Farage and Tice file High Court lawsuit against National Crime Agency over alleged financial data leak

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and his deputy Richard Tice have filed legal papers at the High Court suing the National Crime Agency (NCA) over allegations that the policing body leaked confidential banking information to journalists. The pair are seeking damages of more than £25,000.

They claim the NCA supplied reporters with details from bank statements, large financial transfers and conversations with bank managers. The leaked material reportedly included an £80,000 loan to Tice from convicted fraudster George Cottrell, a £1 million donation from Cottrell's mother to a Tice-run think tank, and a £5 million donation to Farage from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne. The NCA took no action over any of the transfers and has not admitted responsibility for the leak.

The newspaper reports on Reform UK's finances prompted Farage to resign as the MP for Clacton, triggering a by-election. The NCA has been contacted for comment.