Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Billionaire property developer gifts Reform UK at least a million pounds
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (left) with billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy, who is defecting to Reform UK, at Millbank TV studios in London, December 10, 2024

NIGEL FARAGE’S finances have been boosted, and his man-of-the-people image tarnished, after a billionaire property developer gifted his Reform UK party at least a million pounds.

Nick Candy announced the donation at a photocall with Reform’s owner and leader as the party continues to surge in opinion polls.

Mr Candy confirmed he would be giving a “seven-figure sum” to Reform, which recently grown to more than 100,000 members, and that he has been appointed party treasurer.

Mr Farage denied that this meant Reform was now the party of the super-rich.

“No, we haven’t sold a single peerage,” he said.

“We need ammunition. We can’t fight big national campaigns without the money.”

Mr Candy’s life as treasurer will be made much easier if US multi-billionaire Elon Musk follows through on reports that he will give one hundred million dollars to Reform. 

Mr Farage confirmed that the party would accept such a donation if offered, but not that it actually had been.

Reform has recently secured high-profile defections from the Conservatives including hard right ex-MP Andrea Jenkyns and leading activist Tim Montgomerie.

The party will not, however, be welcoming ex-home secretary Suella Braverman — at least, not just yet. 

Her husband, businessman Rael Braverman, has just signed up, but Ms Braverman is holding out.

“I am not defecting,” she said.  “My husband doesn’t tell me how to do my job, and I don’t tell him how to pick a political party.”

Reform has gained significant ground since the general election and now polls slightly behind or slightly ahead of Labour. 

Polling guru John Curtice said: “If voters still aren’t convinced that the Conservatives have learned the lessons of the last government, and if Labour are not turning around the economy and the health service — voters’ principal concerns — [then] they’ve got plenty of other places to go to, one of which is Reform.”

Labour’s vote, he added, was “being scattered to the four winds,” with 6 per cent of the general election support going to each of the Tories, Reform, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
An elderly lady sitting at home in Liverpool with her electr
Winter Fuel Payments / 4 June 2025
4 June 2025
Defence Secretary John Healey (left) and Prime Minister Keir Starmer listen to Type 26 Programme Director, BAE Systems David Shepherd (right) during a visit to BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow, to launch the Strategic Defence Review, June 2, 2025
Military / 3 June 2025
3 June 2025
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow, to launch the Strategic Defence Review, June 2, 2025
Militarism / 2 June 2025
2 June 2025

Anti-war campaigners warn Britain is on course to become more militaristic as Starmer unveils massive programme of new arms spending

Similar stories
Suella Braverman gives a speech at Fareham Leisure Centre in
Britain / 22 January 2025
22 January 2025
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf, and Refor
Eyes Left / 10 December 2024
10 December 2024
From boozy banker renegade to man-of-the-people populist, Farage’s evolution continues — if he can win constituencies like the Welsh mining areas, the left will need new and better answers, writes ANDREW MURRAY
Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice and Nigel Farage during a p
Britain / 10 June 2024
10 June 2024