Ben Habib has not ruled out a return to Reform UK, the party he used to co-lead before his departure, despite new leader Nigel Farage bidding him good riddance.
The pair have traded blows over the past year and Mr Habib is set to no longer be a thorn in the side after declaring he was leaving entirely.
The politician tweeted a video on Thursday where he announced: “It is a sad day for me. I must sever my ties with Reform UK.”
It brings an end to some uncertainty at the top of the far-right party, which has broken into the mainstream this year, winning four million votes and five MPs at the general election.
Here is how we got here and what it means for the future of the radical party.
Who is Ben Habib?
Benyamin Habib, to give him his full name, was born in Pakistan but was privately educated in Britain and has worked in finance, insurance and property.
The 59-year-old previously had an involvement in politics as a Conservative Party donor but his alignment drifted further right on the back of the European Union referendum.
Mr Habib has stated that he “threw his hat” in with what was known as the Brexit Party because of what he perceived as failures of the then prime minister, Boris Johnson.
As part of his new party, he became an MEP.
The Brexit Party became Reform UK in 2021 and he became co-deputy leader in 2023 alongside David Bull.
Despite this, he has had fundamental disagreements with Mr Farage – the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party – over whether Brexit was “done”.
He unsuccessfully stood for the party in the Wellingborough byelection in February and controversially said he would be in favour of leaving migrants to drown in the Channel.
Why did he fall out with Reform?
Following the election, party chairman Richard Tice became co-leader as Mr Habib moved aside. Mr Farage said he wanted to make the party more “professional”.
Mr Habib said: “I have just been informed by Nigel Farage that Richard Tice is taking over as deputy leader of the party. Consequently, I no longer hold that position.
“I am considering my position more generally in light of this change.”
He added: “I have long held concerns about the control of the party and the decision-making processes. I will reflect on all of this.”
Why did he leave Reform?
Mr Habib said the party’s new constitution – drawn up in August – “did not work” and questioned whether it had any legal input.
“We have got to be true to what we believe in… It is not about political expediency, we need to do the right thing.”
He added: “I also have an issue with how Reform seems obsessed with recruiting Tories. I can’t understand the obsession.”
In addition, he said that he had issues with the democratic set-up for the party and said that Reform had banned him from speaking to party members at a local level.
“I have no option other than to say I am ideologically separate from Reform.”
However, in an interview with right-wing channel GB News, he said that a return could happen.
“I am going to go on fighting that cause. If Reform should democratise and Nigel [Farage] wants that group hug, let’s have it,” he said.
Mr Farage has celebrated his departure, telling GB News that Mr Habib had "attacked me more in public than the Labour Party have".
“He's gone very bitter, very twisted. It's very sad,” Mr Farage added.
"The fact that he's walked away, frankly, is a huge relief.”
