Nigel Farage ‘hands ownership of Reform UK to members’, says party

Thursday 20 February 2025 3:57 pm
 |  Up to date: 

Thursday 20 February 2025 3:58 pm

Nigel Farage has “handed over possession of Reform UK to its members”, the social gathering has mentioned.

The Clacton MP beforehand mentioned that he was “relinquishing” management of the corporate as he pledged to “change the construction” and provides members possession of the organisation.

It comes as Farage responded to US President Donald Trump’s remarks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky being a dictator.

He mentioned: “Let’s be clear, Zelensky just isn’t a dictator, but it surely’s solely proper and correct that Ukrainians have a timeline for elections… there must be a timeline in order that the Ukrainian folks can vote on a peace deal.”

Modifications have been posted on Firms Home that present Reform 2025 Ltd has been established, and now controls the shares within the social gathering.

Celebration chairman Zia Yusuf posted on X on Thursday: “We’re happy to announce that, as promised, Nigel Farage has handed over possession of Reform UK to its members.

“Reform UK is now a non-profit, with no shareholders, restricted by assure. We’re assembling the governing board, consistent with the structure.

“This was an vital step in professionalising the social gathering. We are going to quickly have extra thrilling bulletins about Reform UK as we put together for presidency.”

Farage and social gathering deputy Richard Tice had beforehand been listed as individuals with vital management of the corporate Reform Celebration UK Ltd.

Information filed with Firms Home present that Farage, Tice and former social gathering treasurer Mehrtash Azami now not have any shares in Reform Celebration UK Ltd.

As a substitute, a brand new restricted firm, Reform 2025 Ltd is listed as being in “vital management” of it, holding all 15 shares.

Reform 2025 Ltd has two administrators, in accordance with Firms Home – Farage and Yusuf. Its handle is listed because the social gathering’s workplaces at 124 Metropolis Highway, east London. It says there can be “no individuals with vital management”.

Farage had first made the promise to relinquish management in September when he mentioned “I now not want to manage this social gathering”.

In a video posted on X, he mentioned: “We are going to change the construction of the social gathering from one restricted by shares to an organization restricted by assure, and meaning it’s the members of Reform that may personal this social gathering.

“I’m relinquishing management of the corporate, and certainly of the general management of the social gathering, it’s now going to be the members, and that, I feel, is the suitable factor, and it’s the suitable factor as a result of this convention marks the approaching of age of Reform UK, and that’s one thing that I’m very, very enthusiastic about.”

In accordance with Reform UK’s structure, the social gathering chief could be eliminated if 50 per cent of MPs wrote to the chairman to request a vote of no confidence – however provided that Reform has greater than 100 MPs, and the board vote to approve the movement.

Or 50 per cent of social gathering members also can write to the chairman to request a movement of no confidence, however these letters are solely legitimate for 60 days from the date of receipt. 

However Ben Habib, former Reform deputy chief, who give up over issues a couple of lack of democracy for members, informed the Guardian: “The structure doesn’t for my part give the power for members to take away the management. 

“Even after they have possession of the social gathering by the members, the structure continues to be suboptimal – to place it mildly.”

Nevertheless, Farage insisted to GB Information: “In the end, in the event that they don’t like what I’m doing, they now have technique of eradicating me.

“Getting the steadiness proper may be very, crucial. We wish this to be a really skilled political social gathering. I feel these are all the suitable steps.”