Nigel Farage’s campaign against the World Health Organization (WHO) is moving to the United States as a charitable foundation and grassroots non-profit, raising questions about why the Reform UK leader is involved in an American pressure group. The Action on World Health campaign, co-founded by Farage, is relocating to Delaware.
As part of its relaunch, the group has appointed Farage’s longtime friend and Brexit campaigner Andy Wigmore to its board, along with American lobbyist Gerry Gunster, who worked on Farage’s 2016 EU referendum leave campaign. Farage serves as honorary chair of the organisation, which advocates for replacing the WHO, accusing it of being too close to China, “compromised by private funding”, and “far left”.
The move comes after Farage became an MP in July 2024 and has since made at least ten trips to the US. The group’s website now solicits donations by payment card or US bank account, with a form for people worldwide to email politicians against the WHO – but it does not include an option for UK residents to contact their MPs.
Other London-based board members include Amanda Moslé Friedman, a US businesswoman and associate of Farage, and Greg Swenson, chair of Republicans Overseas UK. The Guardian reported in 2024 that Action on World Health had links to the nicotine industry. Its other co-founder, David Roach, is a Reform UK local election candidate whose company previously provided secretariat services to the Global Initiative on Novel Nicotine, which advocates for nicotine pouches. Roach’s company also lobbied for vaping firm ANDS.
In its manifesto, released before the 2024 UK election, the group opposed “excessive regulation” on vaping, stating that adults should be treated as adults. Roach previously said no vaping or nicotine companies were funding the campaign, and that his consulting firm was not being paid for its services. Farage belatedly declared his unpaid role at the organisation in the MPs’ register of interests later in 2024. The WHO has accused Action on World Health of spreading misinformation about its pandemic preparedness treaty.
A spokesperson for Spotlight on Corruption said the relocation shows the need for stricter rules on MPs’ second jobs and side hustles. Action on World Health, Reform UK, and David Roach did not respond to requests for comment.
