Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins revealed he has moved back to Britain so he can help Reform “get Labour out”.
The former Tory party donor fled the UK for Spain when Sir Keir Starmer was announced as Prime Minister, but is now returning to save the country he loves.
Mr Mullins, known as the world’s richest plumber, told the Express he will do “anything he can legally” to boot Labour out of power.
Leaning against his glittery kitchen surface with London’s skyline in the background, the dad-of-four said he said he would “love to help people that are really struggling” by standing as a candidate for Nigel Farage’s party.
He accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of “bluffing” and predicted she will be “gone very soon”.
“The reason I went is because of Labour, and the reason I will come back is because of Labour,” he said.
“I will do anything I can, legally, to help Reform get into Number 10 and get Labour out.”
The entrepreneur grew up on a South London estate where he started one of Britain’s largest plumbing companies from nothing, later selling it for £140 million.
Mr Mullins believes he can help “get Reform in”.
“I paid over £120 million into the system,” he said. “I don’t want to be paying tax to them. I don’t want them. I don’t want to waste my money any longer.”
A Labour victory in the 2024 July general election saw a mass exodus of wealthy individuals flee to countries where taxes are more sympathetic.
Mr Mullins was one of the millionaires who preemptively moved to Spain shortly before the government’s inevitable landslide.
Speaking on Labour’s performance so far, the entrepreneur claimed he “knew it was going to be bad” but “it’s probably 10 times, if not 100 times, worse” than his expectations.
“They’re just discouraging millionaires, business people [and] job providers,” he added.
“Everybody has realised that Rachel Reeves is not the one to be there. I wouldn’t employ her.
“I wouldn’t employ any of the Cabinet, but I certainly wouldn’t employ someone like her. “She’s fluffy, she’s lying, she’s bluffing. She will be gone very, very soon.”
The businessman nodded over to his hallway of fame where photographs of previous and current world leaders, political figures and Royal Family members can be found, claiming that the country needs a real leader.
Among the images are David Cameron, who he believes was a “great prime minister”, Donald Trump who he said “makes things happen,” and Margaret Thatcher, his “idol”.
A leader not yet on his wall is Nigel Farage, but Mr Mullins, who was a Remainer, hopes this will change by the next election.
Speaking about the Clacton MP, he said “I get on very well with Nigel. I think he’s a great geezer.”
But his support now goes further than his kind words, as he announced his hopes of standing as a Reform UK councillor in the May elections.
“When the election comes, I’ll do everything I need to do to comply with being able to run for it, and then when I win a seat, I’ll be back,” he added.
Mr Mullins grew up in Lambeth and wants to able to stand in the constituency as he feels he knows the local community, their issues and how he could help them. “Whichever one I’ll go for, I’ve got no hesitation at all that I shall win the seat.”
The Pimlico Plumbers founder made a large donation to the party last year, with plans to continue funding throughout Mr Farage’s bid for No.10.
“Where the money can help to get Reform in, that’s the important thing,” he said. Despite Mr Mullins’ amicable relationship with Mr Farage, having attended previous events and meetings with him, the pair disagree on a career-making issue for the party leader. Brexit.
The millionaire is a staunch Remainer, having previously championed to stay in the UK.
“I still do not believe that we’ve gained anything from leaving the EU. I believe we are not better off for it.”
However, he said the single disagreement is not large enough to cause an issue between the pair. “I’m not going to be worried about that. If anything, the trade deal that he will pull off with Trump will be a million times better than anything,” he said.
Sporting a blue tie with the words “WeFix” in bold yellow – the name of his new business – he has taken his fiery entrepreneurial spirit and founded another premium plumbing company last year.
Selling his iconic Pimilco Plumbers three years ago, Mr Mullins speaks of the “big gap” that “opened up for a top quality service company”.
However, the October Budget has seen WeFix start off at a more leisurely pace than the family business would have liked.
“It’s a slow start, because of the economy at the moment, but people will always pay for quality. The Budget has definitely made us rethink who we are, how many people we employ because of National Insurance.”
Ms Reeves announced a hike in Employers National Insurance (NI) by 1.2 percentage points to 15%, up from 13.8%. Despite the Budget, Mr Mullins said he went ahead with launching WeFix due to years of preparation that the family put into it.
“Many businesses are closed. Many businesses will close when it (NI) gets introduced. I mean, that was probably the worst business decision other than the Workers Rights that I’ve ever known since I’ve been in business.
“They are penalising successful people, people are leaving. They are leaving the country. Many, many people I know, billionaires have gone, millionaires have gone,” he said.
Splitting his time between Spain and Dubai, a tax-free haven, Ms Mullins said “normal” people are leaving the UK too.
