Arron Banks, a Reform UK backer and major Brexit donor, hired private investigators to investigate Conservative Party chair Kevin Hollinrake. Banks confirmed his involvement in the probe on Sunday, adding to revelations that he had previously funded surveillance on a prominent journalist.
The disclosure raises fresh questions about Banks' use of private intelligence firms to target political opponents and media figures. Banks emerged as a leading financial backer of the Leave campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum and has maintained close ties to Reform UK, Nigel Farage's political vehicle. He previously ran as a Reform UK candidate.
The investigation into Hollinrake represents an escalation in Banks' use of private investigators. Hollinrake, who assumed the Conservative Party chair role, became the subject of Banks' intelligence gathering operation. The timing and scope of this investigation remain unclear, but the revelation underscores the aggressive tactics Banks employs against figures he perceives as adversaries.
The separate investigation into the journalist, disclosed earlier, demonstrated Banks' willingness to spend private funds on intelligence operations targeting media scrutiny. These revelations paint a picture of a wealthy businessman using his resources to conduct opposition research and gather information on journalists and politicians.
Banks has not detailed his motivations for investigating Hollinrake specifically. The Conservative Party has not publicly commented on the development. The incidents highlight the murky world of private intelligence work in British politics, where wealthy donors can commission investigations into public figures with limited transparency.
The dual revelations complicate the political landscape. Banks maintains influence over Reform UK at a moment when the party has gained traction with voters disillusioned with the Conservative Party and Labour. His use of private investigators suggests a strategy of gathering intelligence on political rivals to gain tactical advantage.
These actions raise broader concerns about accountability and the role of private wealth in British politics, particularly when such resources are deployed for surveillance and intelligence gathering on political