The amendment requires the NCA to investigate leaks of personal financial information

UK Reform deputy leader Richard Tees has written to the head of the National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate who is responsible for releasing personal financial information to the media.

The payments to the companies were reported to the NCA as part of their suspicious activity reporting program, something Tees said he only learned about when contacted by The Guardian newspaper.

Reform UK believes the paper’s information may have come from the NCA.

“The NCA does not confirm or deny receipt of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and does not comment on how any SAR is used,” an agency spokesperson said.

“SARs are confidential and violate confidentiality as a risk to the commission of a suggestion offense under the Criminal Procedure Code.”

According to the Telegraph,, External Tees’ company Teesun Investments has secured an £80,000 loan from George Cottrell, a close associate of reform leader Nigel Farage, in late 2024.

Britain Mins Business, a Tees-owned think tank, also received a £1 million donation in June 2024 from Cottrell’s mother, Fiona.

The information from the Election Commission shows, External that Britain Means Business donated £500,000 to Reform UK in the same month.

The NCA was notified of the payments as part of the SARs programme, which warns law enforcement agencies of potential money laundering. 866,616 cases were identified in 2024/25.

It is understood that the NCA often provides information in SARs reports to police forces and other organizations involved in their investigations.

Cottrell has been at the center of a political controversy since the Sunday Times reported that Farage had provided support including security and social media workers in the year before he became an MP.

Under the Parliamentary Act, newly elected MPs must declare any gifts or benefits received in the 12 months prior to their election in connection with their “parliamentary or political activities”.

However, there is a “private only” exemption from gifts and benefits.

Reform argued that Farage did not breach the guidelines by not disclosing the support from Cottrell because the support was made in a “personal capacity”.