Nigel Farage recruits property tycoon Nick Candy as Reform treasurer

Reform UK has introduced Nick Candy, a billionaire real estate developer and previous supporter of the Conservative Party, as its new treasurer. His main responsibility will be to gather substantial funds for the upcoming general election campaign.

This is the most recent in a line of statements from Nigel Farage's party designed to demonstrate its commitment to gaining political influence.

Candy, who is wed to Australian singer and actress Holly Valance, a fellow supporter of Reform, earned his wealth through purchasing and renovating real estate alongside his brother Christian.

The couple received a private education and purchased their initial home in London in 1995, financing it with a £6,000 loan from their grandmother. While they have kept their financial status private, they refer to themselves as "self-made billionaires."

The real estate magnate had a close relationship with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, contributing over £270,000 to the party during his time in charge and even attending Johnson's wedding.

He now claims that Farage has the potential to win the upcoming general election and is vowing to gather "tens of millions" for Reform UK. He has informed reporters that he plans to contribute a "seven-figure amount" of his own money as well.

"This country requires transformation, and I am convinced that Nigel Farage is the right individual to bring about that change. I believe he will become the next prime minister," he stated while being introduced to the media at Westminster.

Elon Musk has shown interest in Candy being appointed, as there are rumors that the billionaire owner of X is considering making a substantial donation to Farage's party.

Candy mentioned that he and Musk communicated after the announcement on Tuesday morning, but the new treasurer of Reform UK wouldn't disclose any details about ongoing discussions.

When asked about the wealthy businessman who backs Donald Trump, Farage responded, "We don't have much information about Elon Musk, except that he aligns with our views."

He humorously said, "If folks want to give us money in a legal way, we won’t turn it down."

In the UK, both businesses and individuals must be registered to contribute to a political party. This leads to concerns about how a US citizen originally from South Africa can donate to Reform.

Farage rejects the idea that Reform UK is turning into a party for the wealthy, explaining that the fundraising efforts are aimed at achieving a "level playing field" financially with other major political parties.

"By doing that, we will accomplish remarkable things," he continued.

In addition to financial support, Reform UK has been establishing important connections in Westminster.

Last week, Tim Montgomerie, a seasoned commentator and former adviser to Johnson who established the significant Conservative Home website, declared that he was switching parties. He cited immigration as a policy failure that he could not overlook.

Farage has had an inconsistent track record with notable signings. During his time as the leader of UKIP, he famously had disagreements with high-profile individuals like TV star Robert Kilroy-Silk, former Tory Douglas Carswell, and ex-EU auditor Marta Andreasen, shortly after introducing them with great enthusiasm.

However, he has also succeeded in garnering support from rich investors in the past, including insurance mogul Arron Banks, who financially supported his campaign for Brexit.

He is presenting Reform UK as the party for those eager for change—a stance that helped Labour secure a significant electoral win a little over five months ago.

However, Sir Keir Starmer's choice to implement tough and unpopular measures early in his leadership, coupled with several avoidable mistakes, has led to a significant decline in Labour's popularity, while Reform's support has increased.

Reform UK is currently holding a solid third position in national opinion polls, surpassing the Liberal Democrats, and is closing in on the two leading parties.

The new political party struggled to convert its level of backing into actual seats in Westminster in July.

The Liberal Democrats garnered 3.5 million votes and secured 72 members of Parliament thanks to their focused campaign strategy. In contrast, Reform UK received slightly more than four million votes but managed to win only five seats.

Farage is determined to figure out how to leverage Westminster's first-past-the-post voting system to benefit his party by seeking insights from the Liberal Democrats.

Reform UK's newly appointed chairman, Zia Yusuf, a multi-millionaire, is tasked with the challenge of making the party more professional. This won't be an easy feat, especially given the controversies surrounding the party, especially related to the candidates it has selected in its brief existence.

Nigel Farage has come under scrutiny regarding James McMurdock, the Reform Member of Parliament representing South Basildon and East Thurrock, who has a prior conviction for assaulting his girlfriend back in 2006.

The party acknowledged that they knew about McMurdock's past conviction when they chose him as a candidate. They firmly believe that individuals have the ability to turn their lives around.

Reform UK is promising to carefully screen candidates more rigorously before the local elections next year to prevent any potential issues.

A key focus is the newly established mayoral position in Greater Lincolnshire, for which the Conservative Party has announced that former MP Andrea Jenkyns will be their candidate.

Up until now, many have viewed reform as a challenge for the Conservatives. However, the day after the general election, Farage clarified their approach by stating, "We're targeting Labour."

The major political parties will be closely monitoring Reform UK's recent wave of announcements with some unease, questioning whether they can maintain this level of energy and activity.