Key facts
- Richard Tice has issued a legal threat to The Guardian over its reporting on his financial dealings.
- Tice's lawyers are seeking to unmask the sources of The Guardian's reporting.
- Labour's Bridget Phillipson and other groups have condemned Tice's actions as an attack on press freedom.
- The Guardian has reported on significant donations to Reform UK and Nigel Farage, which were flagged to the National Crime Agency.
- Tice and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing.
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, has been accused of employing "nasty tactics" and issuing legal threats against The Guardian in an effort to intimidate journalists reporting on his financial dealings. Labour's Bridget Phillipson has condemned these actions as a "deeply chilling attempt to silence the free press."
Lawyers representing Tice specifically targeted a Guardian correspondent for her reporting on a series of financial transactions that had been referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA). Tice is currently suing the NCA, asserting that the information disclosed could only have originated from an agency officer. In parallel, Tice's legal team sent a separate letter to The Guardian, indicating their intention to seek disclosure of documents they believe could reveal the identities of the sources.
Phillipson stated that Tice's actions are an attempt to harass those who have exposed allegations, urging him to drop the lawsuit against the NCA and be transparent. She characterized the legal letters as "trumped-up" and indicative of Reform UK's disregard for democratic principles.
The move has also drawn criticism from the Liberal Democrats, anti-corruption advocates, and press freedom organizations. Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson, described the use of the legal system to pursue journalists' sources as a "desperate, bullying tactic." Susan Hawley, director of Spotlight on Corruption, called the legal threats a "deeply concerning attack on press freedom," suggesting Tice would be better served by addressing the legitimate questions about his finances and Reform UK's funding.
Phil Brickell, a Labour MP and chair of the all-party group on anti-corruption, echoed these sentiments, calling Tice's campaign "contemptible" and urging government action to protect those who expose wrongdoing.
The Guardian has published reports detailing a secret £1m donation to Reform UK through a fundraising vehicle managed by Tice, as well as a secret £5m gift to Nigel Farage shortly before he announced his candidacy for the 2024 general election. These transactions, along with others, were reportedly flagged by bankers to the NCA due to concerns about potential money laundering. Farage and Tice have both denied any wrongdoing.
Tice has suggested in court documents that The Guardian's City editor, Anna Isaac, could not have obtained information from multiple banks, and his lawyers have directly corresponded with Isaac seeking to unmask sources. Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO of Index on Censorship, noted that the actions appear to be an attempt to force a journalist to reveal their sources, which is a "nasty tactic" that undermines public interest reporting. Theo Bamber, CEO at the News Media Association, emphasized the fundamental importance of protecting journalists' sources for holding power to account.
A spokesperson for Guardian News and Media stated that Tice's legal threat seems to be a "calculated attempt to deflect attention" and vowed that The Guardian would oppose these attacks on press freedom. Tice himself criticized "lefty journos" on social media, suggesting they "want war. They’ve got war." This situation follows a report that Arron Banks, a prominent Reform UK member, employed private investigators against a Sunday Times journalist.