Farage ally using private investigators to snoop on business rivals, political opponents and journalists

New details have emerged of how a close Brexiteer ally of Nigel Farage is using private investigators to snoop on his business rivals as well as journalists.

The recent Reform UK candidate Arron Banks, who is setting up a pro-Brexit campaign with Mr Farage, has hired a company called Precision Risk and Intelligence (PRI) to spy on two companies he is currently locked in a seven-year dispute with.

Tactics include using private investigators to snoop into the lives and business of his targets, including creating a whistleblowing cooperation against insurance company Talanx and legal firm Kennedys.

It raises new questions over Mr Farage’s judgement with candidates and his inner circle.

The extraordinary move follows recent revelations that Mr Banks also used the same company to spy on journalists at the Sunday Times who had been investigating Mr Farage and other senior figures in Reform UK.

There have also been claims he used PRI to obtain material on Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake.

Mr Banks is hoping to run as Reform UK’s candidate in Jacob Rees-Mogg’s former North East Somerset seat and was the party’s candidate for mayor in Bristol.

The latest revelations come against the backdrop of a seven-year dispute with the insurance company Talanx and their legal firm Kennedys.

The Independent understands Mr Banks has even asked PRI to set up a whistleblowing operation where large numbers of staff have been contacted with a view to provide information of any misconduct.

He has alleged Kennedys undertook an audit of his insurance company Legal Protection Group (LPG), while simultaneously pitching their services to Talanx to replace LPG which led to a conflict of interest.

The Independent understands Mr Banks made complaints via the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) but has also taken matters into his own hands in the case.

Mr Banks has been a long term ally of Mr Farage, funding the Leave.EU campaign in 2016 and being pictured with him meeting Donald Trump the same year alongside other Brexiteers, including Andy Wigmore and Raheem Kassam.

Recently, Mr Farage revealed he has been discussing resurrecting the Brexit campaign with Mr Banks in the wake of prime minister Andy Burnham looking at rejoining the EU.

At a Reform UK event in Plymouth last month, Mr Farage said: “I’ve spoken to Arron, and I’m seeing him next week, and we’re getting reactivated.”

Mr Farage also told GB News on 12 October: “I spoke to Arron Banks last week. Leave.EU has been in the cupboard, but it’s been taken out and the dust is being taken off it and we’re ready to go again.”

The Independent has contacted Mr Banks but he declined to comment on Talanx and Kennedys.

On reviving Leave.EU, he pointed to Mr Farage’s comments and, regarding being a candidate in North East Somerset, he added: “I’ve said publicly I’ve discussed being the candidate if, and when, a by-election occurs.”

Of the Sunday Times allegations, he claims the journalist involved is “an activist” and told the Mail on Sunday: “If you live by the sword you die by the sword.”

The Independent has asked Talanx and Kennedys for a comment.

Reform and the SRA declined to comment.