Reform UK has witnessed a surge in donations just hours after a major backer flipped to endorse a Tory leadership hopeful vowing to make Nigel Farage “redundant”, GB News understands.
Ex-Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall appeared to deal Reform UK a significant blow yesterday after rejoining the Tories to endorse ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.
The 91-year-old, who previously donated more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party, only joined Reform UK recently and addressed supporters at a pre-polling day rally in Houghton-le-Spring in June.
He made a donation to the populist party but Farage refused to publicly declare the sum.
Sir John Hall made a donation to the populist party but Farage refused to publicly declare the sum
PA
Sir John Hall endorsed Robert Jenrick for Tory leader
ROBERT JENRICK
Despite switching his support back to the Tories, GB News understands Reform UK yesterday saw a healthy boost in donations.
“Yesterday was 30 per cent above average,” a senior Reform UK source told GB News.
Chairman Zia Yusuf added: "Reform is funded mostly by small donations, and our members are the lifeblood of our movement.
"Every week we see momentum building, with new highs in the polls, membership surging to new records, continued growth in donations and the roll out of a campaign winning machine.
"Under Nigel Farage's leadership, we are building a local branch infrastructure across the UK, with the first priority being the thousands of local election candidates next year."
The boost to the populist party’s war chest came as Jenrick released footage of his conversation with Hall at St James’s Park.
Speaking to Jenrick during his visit to Newcastle, Hall said: “I’m basically concerned for the culture of our nation and the way it’s going.
"In the coming leadership election, I would hope people like yourselves will come with another message.”
Jenrick replied: “That’s what I’m trying to do. That’s why I’m standing to be leader of the party.”
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Nigel Farage won't be too pleased that Hall has switched back to the Tories
GETTYGreat to meet with Sir John Hall, a true champion of Newcastle and the North East. pic.twitter.com/3kopKqZOT0
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) August 29, 2024
Hall responded: “That’s a difficult task. I wish you well. Hopefully you’ll try to deliver it. Without those thoughts and wishes, our areas will have no champions to fight for us.”
Jenrick added: “This is a great country and this is a great part of our country. But we’ve got to give it hope and optimism, and that’s what the Conservative Party has got to do in the future.”
Farage had welcomed Hall into Reform UK with open arms in June, expressing the populist party's "delight".
The Clacton MP said: “It says a lot when a man like Sir John Hall, after decades of public support for the Conservative Party, is now supporting Reform UK."
However, Hall is now supporting a candidate determined to make Reform UK "redundant".
Jenrick, who leads the pack of Tory leadership contenders with 12 MPs publicly supporting his bid, said: "I want to put Reform out of business.
“I want to make them redundant, because I want to have clear policies on legal and illegal migration.”
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick wants to make Reform UK 'redundant'
PA
Reform UK's rally in BirminghamREUTERSGB News understands Jenrick’s supporters consider Hall’s switch a major coup and argue it demonstrates the ex-Immigration Minister is more than capable of winning over Reform UK voters.
However, Reform UK’s surge in donations also coincided with the next step of the populist party’s long-term plan to supplant the Tories as the main party on the right of British politics.
In a letter sent to Reform UK supporters last night, Yusuf said: “My message to you is that you must not lose hope. We hear you and the Reform movement is stronger than ever. We can turn this ship around yet.
“As awful as Labour are, they are no more than the Tories on fast forward. Both parties leave our border open, explode the size of the population, raise taxes, drive fuel bills up, release violent criminals from jail early, and put foreign citizens above their own.
“But there is a beacon of hope shining ever more brightly in this country. Our movement is stronger than ever.”
Yusuf, who recently went under the radar as a Tory Party member after donating a large sum of money to Reform UK, highlighted how the populist party now has a 76,000-strong membership.
Zia Yusuf said the party will be a "formidable force in British politics" GB News 
Zia Yusuf penned a letter to supporters last night
GB NEWS
Reform UK now has a larger membership than both the Green Party and Scottish National Party.
It is also breathing down the neck of the Liberal Democrats, with Sir Ed Davey’s paid-up supporters numbering around 90,000.
Yusuf’s letter also confirmed the exact number of local branches being formed by Reform UK stands at 120 nationwide.
The message was sent just one week after GB News revealed Farage was planning to overhaul the populist party's infrastructure after holding a secret meeting of 70 local organisers in Westminster.
In his letter, Yusuf concluded: “Over the coming weeks we will build a local campaign winning machine by opening Reform UK branches across the UK.
“We are moving as fast as we can, but will be opening them in waves. If you are in a constituency in the first phase you will already have received an invitation to the inaugural local Reform meeting.
“If you have not received an invitation, please do not be disheartened, we will be opening a branch in your constituency very soon. Under Nigel’s leadership we can become the party of Government and restore Britain to greatness.”
