Mega Tory donor Sir John Hall handed new Reform role in blow to Kemi Badenoch – as millionaire tycoon deals parting shot

MILLIONAIRE spot tycoon and ex-Tory donor Sir John Hall officially joined Reform yesterday successful a stroke to Kemi Badenoch.

The erstwhile president of Newcastle United warned of becoming a “stranger successful my ain land” arsenic helium was appointed North East Life President of Nigel Farage’s party.

Sir John antecedently donated £500,000 to the Tories earlier endorsing Reform astatine the general election and past backing Robert Jenrick to regenerate Rishi Sunak arsenic person of the opposition.

In a parting changeable astatine his aged party, the spot magnate declared that 14 years of Conservative regularisation failed to power immigration oregon enactment businesses and growth.

Sir John donated a “vast sum” to Reform arsenic the announcement was made today.

He said: "I joined the Conservative Party due to the fact that they were for the backstage sector. Gradually, things changed, and implicit the past fewer years I was rather astounded astatine the mode changes were happening successful my country.

"I'm an aged Englishman, and abruptly I find myself being a alien successful my ain onshore aft 14 years of Conservative rule.

"Reform speaks the language, I've ne'er seen specified enthusiasm for a governmental party. Like galore English radical today, I privation to spot that Englishness is protected for future generations, and I'm delighted to beryllium with Reform."

Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf said: “Sir John Hall is simply a elephantine of the North East of England and a beacon for societal mobility and British values.

"Having been a agelong clip Tory protagonist and donor, helium tin spot that their marque is present breached aft 1 of the top betrayals of the British people.”