Advance UK, founded and led by former Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib, has now been officially registered with the Electoral Commission.
This week’s announcement marked a significant turning point for the fast growing movement, transforming it into a fully fledged political party ready to challenge the established order.
The launch event in Manchester drew a large and highly enthusiastic crowd, many of whom spoke of deep admiration for Habib’s clarity, conviction and willingness to shoulder what he has repeatedly described as a necessary national responsibility.
Supporters welcomed Habib to the stage with an extended round of applause. He began with a brief moment of humour before shifting into the serious tone that characterised the remainder of his address. “We are in the business of serious politics,” he said, thanking organisers, staff and those who had travelled considerable distances to attend. The warmth in the room reflected the strong connection he has built with many who see him as a determined and principled figure in British politics.
Habib shared the moment he realised a new political party was required. “I woke up one morning, I think it was in February this year, and realised, you know, damn, I am going to have to pick up this chalice and I am going to have to launch a new political party,” he said. “It is not what I expected to be doing in my sixtieth year on this planet. I had worked pretty hard all my life, but it was something that was absolutely vital.”
He explained that he had initially set a demanding internal condition before committing fully to the project. “I set myself, ourselves, a target of thirty thousand members,” he said. “If I cannot get to thirty thousand members, the British people do not want me.” What followed surprised even him. The membership target was reached in “record time,” clearing the way for Advance UK’s formal registration.
With evident pride, he told the audience: “I am very very pleased to reveal today that we are no longer just a movement. We are now a fully fledged political party, registered. We are now a political force. We can deliver a blow to the establishment at the ballot box, and we will be delivering multiple blows.”
Habib also spoke of his commitment to every corner of the United Kingdom. “Advance UK is going to be a new kind of political party which actually stands firmly for the country,” he said. “No one, no part of this country, no individual in this country is going to be thrown under a bus in the hot pursuit of power.” He added that the party would apply separately to stand in Northern Ireland and criticised the need for a separate process, calling it one of the structural issues he intends to address.
The successful businessman and former Reform UK deputy leader has long been known for his direct style, and his Manchester speech demonstrated the same. He made clear that Advance UK views itself as an antidote to what he described as years of political drift. “We stand against the establishment,” he said. “We are by that definition a populist party because we stand for the people of this country against an establishment that has repeatedly turned its back on the people.”
Returning to themes of sovereignty and national direction, Habib said, “When we voted to leave the European Union in 2016, it was not just a vote to leave a malignant organisation. It was a vote to restore power to this country, to renew our democracy, and to stand for all things British.” Asking the audience for a show of hands, he noted that no one believed the country had made a “clean break” with the EU. “You cannot have a sovereign democratic United Kingdom if you are subject to laws made by a foreign parliament and adjudicated by foreign courts,” he said.
Habib also spoke at length about Britain’s constitutional heritage, which he described as both precious and misunderstood. “We are not just a Christian culture by heritage and history. We are a Christian country by constitution,” he said. He warned that certain legal and institutional changes which started under Tony Blair had, in his view, weakened the meaning of British citizenship. “In making that act and empowering that court, what he did very quietly without people understanding it was set aside the meaning of what it means to be British,” he said when discussing past legislative reforms.
He also rejected attempts to categorise Advance UK in extreme or misleading terms. Referring to online sources that had tried to label the party, he responded firmly: “Nothing could be further from the truth.” He reiterated that Advance UK rejects racial ideology and instead supports what he called a settled national culture rooted in Britain’s historic identity. Habib stressed that the party will pursue its aims through lawful and peaceful means. “There is only one way we are going to get through this,” he said. “That is if we act peaceably at all times, but we act absolutely firmly. We do not bend. We will stand by our people and we will stand by our principles.”
Habib connected constitutional and cultural concerns with economic pressures, expressing worry about the long term effects of current fiscal models. He argued that confidence, productivity and clarity of national purpose are essential for economic renewal. This, he said, is why Advance UK’s mission must address cultural, constitutional and economic questions simultaneously.
A substantial portion of the launch event was dedicated to policy development. Habib announced the creation of an internal College within Advance UK, tasked with preparing a fully integrated set of proposals. These will address matters including education, democratic accountability, regulatory reform, the role of international law, and the restoration of equality under the law.
By the next general election, he said, Advance UK will present not only a manifesto but also draft legislation. “What it will do is give every British citizen a clear view of precisely what it is an Advance UK government is going to do,” he said. “We are not going to play any tricks with the electorate.” He described the document as being so clear and detailed that the party would have “no option but to deliver it.” Entering Parliament with such a document, he added, would give Advance UK a powerful mandate. “When we go into the Commons on that first day and we put down this document of draft legislation, I will be able to say that the British people have mandated me to deliver this agenda.”
Habib confirmed that the party’s first published policy will be on immigration. “We are very close to finalising and publishing our first policy,” he said. “It is immigration.” He argued that no government in the past thirty years has received a clear mandate for current levels of migration and said Advance UK will outline a firm and precise approach to restoring border control.
In a revealing moment, Habib spoke about the personal responsibility he feels. “I am reluctantly carrying a burden,” he said, describing himself as motivated by duty rather than ambition. He called on supporters with ability and conviction to step forward. “The people who comprise the first cabinet have to be first class people,” he said. “Each must be capable of identifying problems, revealing solutions and fearlessly delivering them.” He encouraged potential candidates to contact the party. “If you care about this country, you now must come forward.”
The Manchester launch marked the moment Advance UK formally entered Britain’s political arena as a registered party. For supporters in the room, the tone was one of optimism, seriousness and renewed purpose. Many described Habib as a leader of unusual clarity and determination, someone willing to do what he believes the moment demands. His speech combined gratitude, constitutional argument, cultural conviction and a detailed organisational plan.
As Advance UK steps forward with official status, supporters argue that the reaction in Manchester reflects a wider appetite for change and a belief that the country is ready for new political ideas and leadership. Whether the party ultimately secures a foothold in Parliament remains to be seen, but the launch demonstrated clear momentum behind Ben Habib and the political movement he has now formally brought into the national arena.
WATCH Ben Habib’s speech in full here: https://youtu.be/Caf4_pUK46E?si=CXBN3RvfNB_V2MPK
