The Guardian: Arron Banks may have called in detectives to investigate a Sunday Times reporter
According to The Guardian, British Brexit supporter and Reform UK member Arron Banks may have hired private investigators to look into Gabriel Pogrund, editor of the Sunday Times’ investigative unit Insight. This was reported by the New Statesman, as cited by The Guardian.
According to the publication, Banks allegedly commissioned Precision Risk and Intelligence—a company he previously owned—to investigate Pogrund. The journalist had written about Nigel Farage and the funding of Reform UK. The Guardian notes that Banks did not offer a direct denial when asked about the alleged hiring of investigators.
In response to the New Statesman’s report, Banks stated that he believes the Sunday Times used information obtained through a hack. He also noted that his organization has an investigative unit with extensive capabilities. When asked whether he had paid for investigators to look into Pogund, Banks replied with the phrase that “those who live by the sword die by the sword.”
Later, Banks told The Guardian that he had not discussed this matter with anyone at Reform UK and would not do so. The party was also asked to comment on the information.
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The Sunday Times rejected Banks’s claim regarding the use of illegally obtained data. A spokesperson for the newspaper stated that its report was based on responsible and professional journalism, and called the possible use of private investigators to tail a journalist “shameful.”
According to The Guardian, Pogrund may have become the subject of an investigation following a July Sunday Times article about financial support for Farage from George Cotrall, a convicted criminal known as “Posh George.” The publication reported that Cottrell paid for Farage’s security, accommodation, and social media support, and also helped arrange his return to the leadership of Reform UK.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating Reform UK’s finances. According to The Guardian, George Cottrell and his mother, Fiona Cottrell, were questioned and issued formal warnings, but no arrests have been made in the case.
