Nigel Farage and Richard Tice are suing the National Crime Agency over what they claim is an illegal leak of their financial information, it emerged on Friday.

The Reform UK leader and his deputy lodged papers at the High Court yesterday, seeking damages of 'more than £25,000' from Britain's FBI.

The action relates to articles in the media about bank transactions flagged to the NCA under its suspicious activity reporting programme.

Mr Farage and Mr Tice have claimed that only the NCA could have been in possession of all of the leaked information. 

The agency is carrying out an internal investigation, but it has not admitted responsibility. 

The papers allege that 'one or more officers or staff members of the National Crime Agency disclosed to one or more journalists the fact that one or more Suspicious Activity Reports had been filed in respect of transfers of money involving the Claimant', it was reported.

In separate writs, they are said to be demanding the NCA admit responsibility, pay damages and share the names of people the information was disclosed to.

Mr Tice said: 'They have had plenty of time to conclude their investigation into this and they are now stalling for time. We have had enough.' 

Revelations about Mr Farage and Mr Tice's finances prompted the Reform leader to resign as MP for Clacton, forcing a by-election this Thursday.

It came as Restore Britain was criticised by anti-Semitism groups for pushing 'the oldest smear' of Jews – after co-founder Charlie Downes suggested Reform leader Mr Farage had been 'bought' by Jewish supporters.

Responding to a social media video by Mr Farage in February saying 'I can't be bought', Mr Downes shared a picture of the Reform leader speaking at the launch of the Reform Jewish Alliance.

But Restore leader Rupert Lowe called the reporting on the row another 'hit piece on Restore Britain'.