The former deputy leader of Reform Ben Habib quit the party yesterday the same day it gained 100,000th member Dame Andrea Jenkyns.
Habib, a Tory party donor, was replaced by Richard Tice as deputy when Tice won the parliamentary seat of Boston and Skegness and became an MP.
Reform leader Nigel Farage says Habib never really accepted being replaced, stating he had become ‘bitter’ and ‘twisted’ over the leadership shakeup.
But Habib, who released a 12-minute resignation video and appeared on GB News to talk about his decision, gave a litany of reasons for leaving. They were:
Failure to Democratise the Party
Habib criticised Reform leadership for reneging on promises to reform the party’s structure, accusing them of presenting a constitution he described as “a reheated document from 2022.”
He questioned the legitimacy of the claim that “the finest legal minds” had worked on it, doubting the quality of its drafting.
Habib said: “They promised they would democratise… but actually, when that constitution turned up, it was a reheated document from 2022 which I’d already rejected.”
He also pointed out the legal impossibility of converting Reform UK from a company limited by shares to one limited by guarantee, a change Nigel Farage allegedly promised but failed to pursue.
“Legally, that’s not possible… no applications have been made to the Electoral Commission for any change in structure.”
Ideological Differences
Habib strongly disagreed with Nigel Farage’s assertion that “Brexit has been done.”
The ardent Brexiteer argued that the UK’s departure from the EU remains incomplete, citing unresolved issues in Northern Ireland and continued alignment with EU policies on Net Zero and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“At no level can I agree with that declaration… what we voted for was for the UK to leave the EU, not for Great Britain to leave,” he said.
He also voiced concerns about the “rate of demographic change” and its cultural implications, linking it to his broader fears about the country’s trajectory.
Feeling Silenced by Party Leadership
Habib expressed deep frustration that Reform UK’s headquarters had banned party branches from communicating with him, a move he found deeply alienating given his role in galvanizing support.
“The final straw for me was hearing… that HQ at Reform had told branches… they shouldn’t hear from me,” he said.
This perceived ostracism compounded his dissatisfaction with the party’s leadership and governance.
Principled Stand
Habib clarified that his resignation was not about personal ambition but about staying true to his values. He described his motivations as stemming from a belief that the UK faces existential threats to its sovereignty, democracy, economy, and culture.
He said: “I’m not in it for political advancement… I’m doing this because I have an absolute belief that the country is facing an existential threat.”
He emphasized his willingness to work outside of party politics if necessary, stating: “I’m quite capable of campaigning outside a political party.”
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Disillusionment with Politics
Habib expressed a general scepticism toward political promises, referencing unfulfilled commitments by both Reform UK and the Conservative Party. He remarked on the Tories’ tendency to “say stuff and do nothing or do the opposite.”
Despite his criticism, he maintained personal affection for Farage, stating that the issues were not personal but about principles: “If Nigel walked in the room, we could all have a big hug.”
Farage issued a stinging statement on GB News regarding Habib, however.
The Brexit supremo said: “That was the real champagne moment of the day. I mean, it was a good day, but Ben Habib announcing he’s not with us really was the absolute icing on the cake.
“Look after the election, Ben didn’t get elected. Other people did, and he and David Bull had been the deputy leaders under Richard Tice.
“I said, Ben, David, I’m really sorry, but I want to make Richard Tice the deputy because he’s in the House of Commons. He will literally deputise for me when he’s there and I’m traveling around the country.
“And David Bull accepted that and is very much a part of the organisation. And poor old Ben felt bitter about it, and he’s attacked me more in public than the Labour Party have.
“He’s gone very bitter, very twisted. It’svery sad. The fact that he’s walked away, frankly, is a huge relief.”
