Major Tory Donor Sir John Hall Switches Allegiance to Reform UK Amidst Election Season

Sir John Hall, previously at the helm of Newcastle United, has shifted his allegiance to Reform UK after being a significant financial supporter of Theresa May’s 2017 campaign.

Political journalist @alixculbertson

Thursday, June 27, 2024, 2:

A benefactor who previously contributed over £500,000 to the Conservative Party has switched allegiance to Reform UK.

At a political gathering in Durham on Thursday, ex-Newcastle United proprietor Sir John Hall publicly aligned himself with Reform UK by appearing alongside the party's leader, Nigel Farage.

Mr. Farage revealed that the son of a miner, who was a financial supporter of Theresa May's 2017 campaign, has made a contribution to Reform UK, although he did not disclose the amount.

He expressed his gratitude towards Sir John for his outspoken support and described the property developer as "a significant success and an exemplar."

The individual, aged 91, has contributed over half a million pounds to the Conservative Party and supported funding for Mrs. May's abrupt general election in 2017.

In May 2017, he donated £25,000 to the Conservative Party, yet by February 2018, he voiced his dissatisfaction with Mrs. May's "indecisiveness" regarding Brexit and her insufficient domestic policies.

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Sir John's business was responsible for developing the MetroCentre shopping complex in Gateshead during the 1980s.

He acquired Woolsington Hall, situated to the northwest of Newcastle, where he has initiated multiple projects such as a football academy and a high-end hotel complete with a golf course.

Sir John is the owner of Wynyard Park, an expansive country estate from the 19th Century located in County Durham, which he restored with an investment of £4 million. It currently serves as a venue for special events and is surrounded by 800 newly constructed homes.

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Sky News' polling monitor indicates that Hunt contributed £32,000 to the local party.

Richard Tice, the chairman of Reform UK and a multi-millionaire, previously donated to the Conservative Party before co-founding the Brexit Party in 2019, which was subsequently rebranded as Reform UK.

In March, former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, Lee Anderson, switched his allegiance to Reform UK.

Lucy Allan, formerly the Conservative MP for Telford, left the party following her suspension for endorsing the Reform candidate in her district.

Support for Reform UK has surged throughout the election period. Recent polling averages show that Reform UK now holds 15% of voter support, trailing behind the Conservatives at 23% and Labour, which leads with 39%.

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