Reform UK has claimed a major scalp today after confirming the appointment of a mega-rich former Tory donor as its new Life President.
Sir John Hall, who spent decades previously backing the Conservatives, was announced today as the new Life President of Reform’s North East region, and will now fund the party’s campaigns there.
Sir John was born in Northumberland in 1933, into a traditional working class Labour family.
Hw started his own business career after school, becoming a successful property tycoon in the Newcastle region and being knighted in 1991.
The former chairman of Newcastle United Football Club, he donated more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party during Theresa May’s doomed 2017 election.
However he began growing disillusioned with Mrs May in 2017 as she failed to get Brexit done, criticising her indecisiveness and lack of domestic agenda.
He first appeared at a Reform UK rally in Durham during the General Election, however he went on to endorse Robert Jenrick during the Conservative leadership election, suggesting he was not fully over his relationship with the Tories.
Following Mr Jenrick’s defeat, he’s now defected full-time to Reform UK, with a promise of major donations to help Nigel Farage’s political efforts.
In a promotional videa, Sir John said he’s “never seen such enthusiasm for a political party” as he does with Reform UK.
He explained: “I heard Nigel speak, a few times, then he started to say things that I believe in.
“I went to your conference and I looked at the conference and what was said by your people, and I want to protect that.
“If people don’t integrate, then I can’t see a happy future for any of us. Reform speaks the language, not just for me but of many many people today.
“I want to see fairness, but I want to see – like many English people today – that Englishness protected for future years and future generations.”
Announcing the new signing, Nigel Farage said he was “delighted” .
Party chairman Zia Yusuf said he will “help fund our campaigns [in the north east], adding: “Having spent decades backing the Tories he is now of the same view as us: Britain needs Reform.”
“Sir John Hall is a giant of the North East of England and a beacon for social mobility and British values. He has done so much for his community, for his football club, and his country.
“Having been a long time Tory supporter and donor, he can see that their brand is now broken after one of the greatest betrayals of the British people.
“We’re delighted to welcome him as Life President of Reform, as we reconstitute the centre-right of British politics.”
