A Conservative donor who gave more than £500,000 to the party has defected to Reform UK.

Sir John Hall, former Newcastle United owner, joined Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at an election rally in Durham on Thursday to announce his support for the party.

Mr Farage said the miner’s son, who helped fund Theresa May’s 2017 election bid, had given Reform UK a donation, but did not confirm how much.

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Sir John Hall with Nigel Farage. Pic:

He thanked Sir John “for coming out so publicly for us” and said the property developer was a “major success story, a role model”.

The 91 year old’s company was behind the construction of the MetroCentre shopping mall in Gateshead and bought Woolsington Hall, northwest of Newcastle where he has several developments, including a football academy and a luxury hotel with golf course.

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