Ben Habib
Ben Habib is a Pakistani-British businessman who transitioned from a successful career in finance and property into the tumultuous world of UK politics. A vocal proponent of Brexit, his journey has seen him serve as a Member of the European Parliament, hold leadership roles in prominent UK parties, and even launch his own political movement. Explore the fascinating trajectory of a figure whose influence continues to shape the post-Brexit political landscape. Ben Habib's early career as a finance analyst and successful property CEO laid the groundwork for his later foray into politics. He became a prominent voice and MEP for the Brexit Party, later Reform UK, before expressing fundamental differences that led to his departure and the founding of Advance UK. Habib has been involved in significant legal challenges against the Northern Ireland Protocol, underscoring his deep commitment to his political convictions.
AI Summary
Ben Habib is a Pakistani-British businessman who transitioned from a successful career in finance and property into the tumultuous world of UK politics. A vocal proponent of Brexit, his journey has seen him serve as a Member of the European Parliament, hold leadership roles in prominent UK parties, and even launch his own political movement. Explore the fascinating trajectory of a figure whose influence continues to shape the post-Brexit political landscape.
- Ben Habib's early career as a finance analyst and successful property CEO laid the groundwork for his later foray into politics.
- He became a prominent voice and MEP for the Brexit Party, later Reform UK, before expressing fundamental differences that led to his departure and the founding of Advance UK.
- Habib has been involved in significant legal challenges against the Northern Ireland Protocol, underscoring his deep commitment to his political convictions.
From Finance to Politics: The Journey of Ben Habib
Early Life and Education
Born Benyamin Naeem Habib on June 7, 1965, in Karachi, Pakistan, his background is a blend of cultures—his father a Pakistani Punjabi, his mother English. At age 14, in 1979, he immigrated to Britain, marking a significant early chapter in his life.
His education began at the prestigious Rugby School, a private institution in Warwickshire, where he would later become president of its alumni association. He then advanced to Robinson College, Cambridge, in 1984, choosing to study Natural Sciences—a path seemingly far removed from future political debates.
A Career in Finance and Property
After graduating, Habib launched into the corporate world. His first major role was in 1987 as an analyst in the corporate finance department at the renowned, though now defunct, financial services firm Lehman Brothers. Just two years later, he ascended to finance director at the insurance broker PWS Holdings, demonstrating early career ambition.
The property sector soon captured his interest. In 1994, he became the managing director of the private property development company JKL Property. This experience paved the way for him to establish his own venture, First Property Group plc, six years later.
As Chief Executive Officer, Habib has steered First Property Group to significant success. The commercial property investment and fund-management company operates across Britain, Poland, and Romania, showcasing his entrepreneurial acumen and international business reach.
Entering the Political Arena
Before his direct involvement in party politics, Habib was a Conservative Party voter and donor. His political identity truly solidified around the Brexit movement, becoming a staunch advocate for the UK's departure from the European Union.
During the 2016 referendum, he argued passionately for Brexit, citing enhanced global trade opportunities, the restoration of UK sovereignty, and greater control over immigration. Interestingly, he also publicly discussed how the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit could present profitable opportunities for his own business.
An MEP for London
His commitment to Brexit led him to stand as a candidate for the Brexit Party in the 2019 European parliamentary election. Placing first on his party's list for the London constituency, he was successfully elected as one of its two MEPs.
During his brief tenure from July 2019 until the UK's withdrawal in January 2020, Habib served on the influential Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. He also played a role in the delegation for relations with South Asia, leveraging his background.
Notably, Transparency International identified Habib as the wealthiest MEP elected to the Ninth European Parliament. This was based on the substantial €960,000 in annual earnings he declared from his primary occupation at First Property Group.
In a pivotal moment in January 2020, Habib voted in favor of the Brexit withdrawal agreement being ratified by the EU Parliament. This agreement famously included the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, a decision that would later become central to his political activism.
Leading Roles in Reform UK
In March 2023, Habib's influence within the Eurosceptic movement grew as he was appointed co-deputy leader of Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party, alongside David Bull. He also took on the crucial role of the party's Brexit and the Union spokesman.
He contested the Wellingborough by-election in February 2024, achieving Reform UK's best by-election result at the time by securing 13% of the vote. He ran again in the 2024 general election for the new Wellingborough and Rushden constituency, finishing third with 21.5%.
Controversy and Departure
A controversial interview in April 2024 with Julia Hartley-Brewer saw Habib suggest that migrants repeatedly slashing their boats in the Channel might be left to drown if they refused assistance. He later clarified his remarks, emphasizing the danger involved when migrants refuse help to return to France.
In July 2024, both Habib and David Bull were removed from their co-deputy leadership positions within Reform UK, replaced by Richard Tice. This marked a shift in the party's internal structure and leadership dynamics.
The changes didn't end there. On November 28, 2024, Habib officially quit Reform UK. He cited deep concerns over the party's structure,
His departure was further fueled by what he described as "fundamental differences" with party leader Nigel Farage on Brexit and disagreements over immigration policy, with Habib advocating for "mass deportations".
The criticism continued into March 2025, when Habib condemned the suspension of Reform MP Rupert Lowe as "an injustice." He accused Farage and Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf of fabricating complaints to oust Lowe after Elon Musk suggested Lowe should lead the party, publicly calling for both men's resignations.
Founding Advance UK
In April 2025, demonstrating his continued commitment to shaping the political landscape, Ben Habib announced he would take over the Integrity Party. This move signaled his intent to build a new political platform aligned with his vision.
Then, on June 30, 2025, Habib officially launched his new political party: Advance UK. With the same legal identity as the former Integrity Party, he set an ambitious goal of attracting 30,000 members, aiming to carve out a new space in British politics.
The Northern Ireland Protocol Challenge
One of Habib's most significant political actions has been his legal challenge against the Northern Ireland Protocol. In February 2021, he, alongside Jim Allister and Baroness Hoey, initiated a judicial review, arguing its unlawfulness and unconstitutionality.
They were later joined by other prominent unionist figures, including former First Ministers Arlene Foster and David Trimble. Their core argument centered on the Protocol's alleged incompatibility with the historic Acts of Union 1800, which govern the constitutional relationship within the UK.
In June 2021, the High Court of Northern Ireland dismissed the challenge. The court acknowledged the Protocol's conflict with the Acts of Union but ruled that the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 had implicitly repealed aspects of those Acts, thus having its own constitutional effect.
The decision was affirmed by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal in March 2022. The judgment pointed out the "obvious inconsistency" of Habib's actions—voting for the Withdrawal Agreement (which included the Protocol) as an MEP, then later calling for its repudiation.
The legal battle reached the highest court in the land: the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. On November 30, 2022, they heard the appeal, but ultimately, on February 8, 2023, the Supreme Court agreed with the previous rulings and dismissed the challenge.
It was later confirmed that the UK Government had incurred significant legal fees, totaling £196,567, defending the court challenges against the Northern Ireland Protocol, underscoring the high stakes and persistent efforts of those who sought its repeal.
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Ben Habib
Benyamin Naeem Habib (born 7 June 1965) is a British-Pakistani businessman and politician who has been the leader of Advance UK, a British far-right political party, since its foundation in June 2025. He is also the chief executive officer of First Property Group, a property investment company, and the chairman of Great British PAC, a pressure group.
Previously, Habib was Deputy Leader of Reform UK from March 2023 to July 2024. Habib was replaced by Richard Tice following the 2024 general election. Habib was also an elected Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for London from July 2019 until the UK left the European Union in January 2020. Prior to this, he had donated to the Conservative Party.
Early life
Ben Habib
Benyamin Naeem Habib was born in Karachi, Pakistan on 7 June 1965 to a Pakistani father and an English mother. His maternal grandfather fought at the Battle of the Somme; his paternal grandfather was born on a farm in Punjab.
He moved to England with his parents in 1979 and attended Rugby School, a boarding school in Warwickshire. He later became head boy and president of the Rugbeian Society.
He studied natural sciences at Robinson College, Cambridge, from 1984 where he was awarded a Boxing Blue.
Business career
Ben Habib
After graduating at university, Habib became an analyst at the corporate finance department at the Lehman Brothers in 1987. In 1989, he was appointed as the finance director of the insurance broker PWS Holdings.
In 1994 Habib became managing director of a private property development company, JKL Property. In 2000, he set up a commercial property fund investment company, First Property Group plc. The company, for which he is chief executive officer, operates in the United Kingdom, Poland, and Romania. In 2024, Habib ordered a share issue worth £3m after the firm reported a pre-tax loss of £4.41m.
In July 2025, the Financial Times reported that Habib had purchased £80,000 worth of shares, increasing his holding in the company to nearly 17 per cent.
Political career
Euroscepticism
Habib was a Conservative Party voter and donor until 2019. He supported Brexit in the 2016 EU membership referendum, arguing that the UK would benefit from trade opportunities, regained sovereignty, and control over immigration. He supported a No-deal Brexit which reportedly would have been favourable to his business.
During the 2019 European parliament elections, Habib ran as the first of six candidates for the Brexit Party in the London constituency, and was elected as one of its two MEPs in London. Habib sat with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, was delegated for relations with the countries of South Asia.
According to Transparency International, Habib was the wealthiest MEP in the Ninth European Parliament based on annual earnings from his other job. He declared €960,000 annual earnings from his company, First Property Group.
In January 2020 Habib voted in favour of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which included the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was ratified by the EU Parliament.
In February 2020 Habib described the Protocol as being a unique advantage to Northern Ireland, as it could create a tiger economy. He also urged Unionists to 'make it work for its own great benefit and that of the United Kingdom'.
Legal challenge against the Northern Ireland Protocol
In February 2021, Habib, together with TUV party leader Jim Allister, and Baroness Hoey, applied for a judicial review of the Northern Ireland Protocol. They were later joined in their litigation by Arlene Foster, the incumbent First Minister of Northern Ireland; David Trimble, the inaugural First Minister; and Steve Aiken, leader of the UUP. The main cause of their legal action was to scrutinise the legality and constitutionality of the Protocol, with regard to their claim that it, and related regulations were incompatibile with the Acts of Union 1800.
In June 2021, the High Court of Northern Ireland (HCNI) in Belfast dismissed the legal challenge on several grounds, including its conflict with the Acts of Union 1800 and thus unconstitutional. The HCNI ruled that although the Protocol conflicted with the Acts of Union the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 also has constitutional effect and had implicitly repealed aspects of the Acts. The court also rejected arguments based on the Northern Ireland Act, the European Convention on Human Rights and EU law. Likewise, the court rejected a challenge to the Regulations, which provided that the consent mechanism in the Protocol was not to be subject to the cross-community voting rules in the Assembly. On 14 March 2022, that decision was affirmed by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, with the judgment making reference to the 'obvious inconsistency' of Habib first voting in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol, as stated in paragraph 11 of his sworn affidavit, but then subsequently calling for a repudiation.
On 30 November 2022, it was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. On 8 February 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge. On 21 March 2023, Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine (responding to a written question by Kate Hoey) asserted that the UK Government had spent £196,567 on legal fees associated with defending the challenges against the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Reform UK
In October 2023 he was appointed co-deputy leader of Reform UK by then leader Richard Tice. He served alongside David Bull, who had been deputy since 2021. At the same time, he became the party's Brexit and the Union spokesman. He was the party's candidate for the Wellingborough by-election in February 2024. Habib finished third of eleven candidates, with 13% of the vote, the party's best result at a by-election. He was the Reform candidate for Wellingborough and Rushden constituency at the 2024 general election where he came third with 21.5% of the vote.
In April 2024, Habib was criticised for remarks he made during an interview with Julia Hartley-Brewer on Talk TV, where he suggested that migrants crossing the English Channel by boat should be left to drown. Habib defended his comments, as he was asked about migrants that slashed their boats, causing them to sink. Habib stated: 'If people are going to repeatedly throw themselves in the channel and refuse the help of our specialised force in order to get back in the boats and go on to France – of course their lives are going to be in danger.'
On 11 July 2024, following Habib's failure to win his seat as an MP at the general election, he was replaced as Deputy Leader by Richard Tice, and said he was "considering [his] position more generally in light of this change".
Criticism of Reform UK
In September 2024, he criticised Reform UK's new constitution, saying that it was undemocratic, and challenged whether it had been drafted by legal experts.
Habib was appointed as chairman of Great British PAC in September 2024.
On 28 November 2024, Habib said he was leaving Reform UK citing "fundamental differences" with Farage over Brexit and concerns about the party's structure. He also said there were "ideological issues" as Habib, unlike Farage, supported "mass deportations". In January 2025, Farage responded to a question from Nick Ferrari on LBC about the impact that Habib's departure could have, saying "none whatsoever".
In March 2025, Habib called Reform MP Rupert Lowe's suspension 'an injustice'. Habib accused Farage and the Chairman of Reform UK, Zia Yusuf, of 'trumping up complaints against' Lowe to oust him after Elon Musk suggested Lowe should become Leader of Reform UK instead of Farage. Habib called for the resignations of both men.
Advance UK
Ben Habib
In April 2025, Habib became the director of the Integrity Party, an organisation founded by Christian Russell and Richard Shaw in late 2024. On 30 June 2025, he launched the party as Advance UK, and in August gained the support of both Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk. The party is positioned to the right of Reform, and has since attracted over 37,000 members, in addition to 10 local councillors through defections. Habib claims to have donated £100,000 to his party.
In February 2026, he stated that he would consider merging Advance UK with Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain. Searchlight Magazine later reported that this had fallen apart, with Habib calling Lowe a "dictator" and accusing the party of having gone "full tilt racist".
Personal life
Ben Habib
Habib is a baptised but non-practising Christian. He was baptised in preparation for his marriage to his Christian wife. Habib describes himself as being brought up with a "soft Christian upbringing" and stated in an interview that he has "never been a Muslim" despite his Pakistani heritage.