The businessman says he’s building a new movement. 

But his war of words with Nigel Farage makes it look

more like a grudge match.

British politics never lacks drama, and the latest plot twist comes from Ben Habib. The businessman and former Reform UK figurehead has broken ranks to launch his own party, Advance UK. On the surface, it’s a new vehicle for right-wing politics. Look closer, and it feels more like a score-settling mission against Nigel Farage.

From Loyalist to Critic

Habib wasn’t a fringe player in Reform UK. He was front and centre: a regular media voice, close to Richard Tice, and a defender of Brexit orthodoxy. For a time, he embodied loyalty to the cause.

Then came the split. Habib accused Reform of lacking seriousness, of “playing games” rather than chasing power. His sharpest barbs, however, weren’t about policy. They were personal — aimed at Farage. In interview after interview, Habib painted him as self-interested, a man more concerned with his own brand than his party’s future.

This wasn’t just political disagreement. It had the sting of betrayal.

For Me This clip sums the situation up.

Enter Advance UK

With Advance UK, Habib promises to deliver what Reform has failed to achieve: genuine political change. The branding is about “common sense” and “direct action.” The policies? Familiar: lower taxes, tougher borders, smaller government.

The pitch is clear — Advance is the serious, businesslike alternative to Reform’s protest politics. Where Farage thrives on personality and showmanship, Habib wants to look like a manager who can get things done.

But is Advance really a movement, or just a rival splinter?

The Personal Undercurrent

Politics is always personal, but Habib’s rhetoric carries a particular edge. His language about Farage has the feel of a personal feud. He has even suggested that Farage “let us down” — the language of a spurned ally, not a cool strategist.

Add in Habib’s failed bid to become an MP and the story sharpens. Defeat fuels ambition. His new party looks like a vehicle not only to promote policies but also to prove himself — and to take revenge on those he blames for his frustrations.

It’s not just about building; it’s about undermining.

Splitting the Right

Here’s the political risk: Advance UK and Reform UK are fishing in the same pond. Both target disillusioned Conservatives and anti-establishment voters. Both want to speak for small businesses and working-class communities.

But two parties fighting for the same space rarely thrive. Instead, they cannibalise each other. Every vote Habib pulls away from Reform is a vote that might otherwise strengthen Farage’s insurgency. The net effect? Division. And when insurgents divide, the establishment usually wins.

That’s why critics see Advance less as a fresh force and more as a spoiler — a destabiliser that weakens the right’s chances of real power.

Serious Politics or Settled Scores?

Farage likes to claim Reform is the only real chance of change. Habib counters: no, his new outfit is the serious alternative. Yet the question lingers: can either deliver change if they spend their energy fighting each other?

The populist right across Europe has faced this same pattern — splits, rivalries, and new parties that dilute rather than strengthen. In that sense, Habib’s move is not new. But it does underline a truth: personal ambition often drives politics as much as ideology.

The Road Ahead for Advance

Advance UK faces steep odds. It needs money, membership, and media oxygen — and Reform already commands much of that space. A few local council wins may be possible. National breakthrough looks far harder.

Still, Habib may not need to win outright to have impact. If Advance bleeds votes from Reform, it can alter the right-wing ecosystem. It can hobble Farage’s momentum. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the point.

Conclusion: Reform vs. Advance, or Reform vs. Revenge?

Ben Habib’s leap from Reform UK to Advance UK is not just about policy — it’s about pride, disappointment, and personal rivalry. He insists Advance is about fixing Britain. His rhetoric, though, often sounds more about settling scores with Farage.

That leaves voters with a question: is Advance UK a genuine new force, or simply the political expression of a personal vendetta?

Either way, Habib’s move guarantees one thing: the populist right will remain divided, and its battle for influence will be fought as much between its leaders as against the establishment.

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