Former Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall backs Reform

Former Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall has announced he is endorsing the Reform party in the general election.

The long-time Conservative donor was speaking at a rally in Houghton-le-Spring near Sunderland, led by Reform leader Nigel Farage.

Sir John told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was “white and proud of it” and was backing the party because he did not want to see his country’s culture “destroyed”.

The Conservative Party has declined to comment. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have been approached for a response.

Mr Farage wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “It says a lot when a man like Sir John Hall, after decades of public support for the Conservative Party, is now supporting Reform UK.

“We are delighted to have him.”

Sir John is believed to have donated more than £500,000 to the party in previous years but they had “let me down”.

He said he would be donating to Reform but would not say how much.

The 91-year-old said it was the “only party who will protect and save my English culture”.

He had “fought for diversity and equality in this region” but felt like a “stranger in my own land”, he added.

The property developer founded the Gateshead Metrocentre, which opened in 1986, and took over Newcastle United in the early 1990s.

He said: “I’m white, I am proud of it and I am not going to go away from it.

“I want to see my culture kept in this country and not destroyed.

“That is why I am voting for Nigel – there is nobody else.”

Reform has been approached for comment on Sir John’s remarks.