Nigel Farage bags billionaire Tory donor

LONDON — Billionaire property developer and political donor Nick Candy is resigning from Britain’s Conservative Party and will join Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as party treasurer.

Candy had been a Tory donor and member since 2009, contributing significant sums of money to the outfit thanks to his property portfolio.

“I am sorry to say there have been too many broken promises and a complete breach of trust with the wealth creators in our country,” Candy said. “Nigel Farage is a close personal friend of mine, and Reform UK represents the future of British politics.”

The property developer said he hoped to raise enough funds to help Reform UK win the next election as the party — which returned five MPs and ate into Tory and Labour votes in July’s election — tries to professionalise its operation.

It marked another defection from the beleaguered center-right Conservatives, who currently languish in opposition after an election rout in July saw them reduced to just 121 seats. Last month, former Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns joined the party and will stand in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty. Conservative former Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s husband Rael Braverman also joined Reform as a senior campaigner.

Candy indicated his unhappiness with the Tories earlier this year ahead of the general election, where he said it was “probably time for a change” and Labour Leader Keir Starmer was “a decent man with good values and good morals.” 

The property tycoon is married to Australian actress Holly Valance, a longstanding Reform UK supporter who ran fundraisers for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.