Nigel Farage is under mounting pressure as questions swirl over his future as leader of Reform UK. The pressure follows a scandal over his acceptance of a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, byelection losses, and the emergence of the rival Restore party led by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe. However, allies insist that speculation about Farage quitting is “wishful thinking.”
Scandal and Scrutiny
Farage is awaiting a verdict from the parliamentary standards watchdog over whether he was right not to declare the £5m from Harborne. He has also faced questions about his lifestyle being partly funded by George Cottrell, a close friend and convicted fraudster. In response, Farage has flown to the US to reconnect with the Trump administration, a move that comes despite polling showing that links to the US president are a major impediment to voters backing Reform.
Internal Divisions and Infighting
Reform UK’s Millbank HQ is reportedly riven with infighting and jostling for position. Old-time Reformers distrust former Tories who have joined the party, particularly Robert Jenrick and his team, whom they suspect of plotting to succeed Farage. Zia Yusuf, the party’s combative donor and home affairs spokesperson, has clashed with Jenrick on social media over deportation policy. Meanwhile, the party’s policy chief, James Orr, endorsed a message supporting Yusuf, likening his critics to “snakes in the grass.”
Farage’s Reduced Profile
Farage has reduced his public profile since the Guardian revealed in April that he had taken £5m from Harborne before becoming an MP. He has been largely absent from party HQ, though Reform says he is at Millbank every day. He has also taken a break from his 7pm GB News slot since before the local elections. Instead, he has been taking long lunches in Mayfair and Chelsea clubs and spending time in his new Surrey property, bought shortly after Harborne’s £5m gift in 2024.
Byelection Losses and the Rise of Restore
Reform UK’s recent byelection losses have added to the anxiety over Farage’s future. The party has also pushed further to the hard right to take on Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain. Farage is known to be frustrated that Lowe and Restore have been outperforming Reform on social media. To tackle this, he recently launched his own Substack that attacks “anti-white” bias in its first article.
Organisational Churn
There has been significant staff turnover at Reform UK. David Bull stepped down as chair after less than a year to focus on becoming an MP, and Charlton Edwards exited as a company director and treasurer. Both men have not commented further, but Bull recently said he thought Farage needed a break from politics. Some Conservative defectors have also trickled back, with Robbie Lammas describing the central office as “a strange place” staffed mainly by young and inexperienced workers.
Donor Dissatisfaction
Some donors are unhappy with the party’s strategy and lack of focus on policy. One Reform donor said after the Makerfield byelection: “Not only have they failed to win, but they have spectacularly failed … There needs to be a broader set of policies and ideas.” Another donor noted “clearly fault lines there for anyone to see” and pointed to Jenrick’s arrival as a source of disruption.
What Happens Next?
An adverse finding from the watchdog could lead to Farage’s suspension as an MP and a byelection in his Clacton constituency. Labour, the Tories, and Restore are all preparing for a contest. Ben Habib, the former Reform deputy leader, believes Farage is “facing an existential threat” and may not win a byelection. However, politics academic Rob Ford thinks Farage is unlikely to step out willingly, saying: “He loves to be in the circus, and I don’t think – unless he’s physically prevented from being in the circus – that he’ll ever stop.”
