Reform challenged by ex-member from the right in by-election

Advance UK is a British political party which was formed by the ex-Reform politician Ben Habib. Habib did not leave Reform UK on good terms, and neither did Nick Buckley, who is now looking to challenge candidate Matt Goodwin in the Gorton & Denton by-election:

I am delighted @NickBuckleyMBE will be standing for @_AdvanceUK in the Gorton and Denton by election.

Nick is a proud patriot, local to the area where he also based his charity, Mancunian Way. His MBE was for charitable work.

Nick offers real change, not the same old or the…

— Ben Habib (@benhabib6) January 31, 2026

From Reform UK to Advance UK

According to the Guardian, Ben Habib quit Reform after “pushing for members to have more power”:

Advance UK is a democratic movement. Members endorse our mission, not the other way around. No censorship. No cronyism. Just serious, open politics. pic.twitter.com/lItBkNsKBz

— Ben Habib (@BackBrexitBen) August 9, 2025

Habib has since attacked Farage:

Ben Habib

Previously Reform’s deputy leader, until he was ousted by Farage.

“He’s not fit to be prime minister” pic.twitter.com/wpZUqo2kJx

— Sebastian Salek (@sebastiansalek) March 13, 2025

As Rose Cocker reported for the Canary:

Advance UK launched back in September 2025. It was founded by tech billionaire Ben Habib, the former deputy leader of Reform UK. Both Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk have thrown their weight behind the far-right newcomers.

Advance UK will actually drive change.

Farage is weak sauce who will do nothing. https://t.co/Vnw2uTdRRi

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2025

Nick Buckley, meanwhile, quit Reform in June 2025, stating:

I have just cancelled my membership of Reform UK.

I gave them 6 months and I am non the wiser what they are about or want. Their campaign is still ‘We Are Not Tories Or Labour’ – even though they will take any defection from any politician.

The best they can be is a stepping stone from today’s failings to something better tomorrow.

At the present moment, they are still worth voting for because there is nothing else on offer with a chance of winning seats.

But do not place all your faith in this party to save us for I cannot see how they do it. They are preparing the stage for something better that will come – and hopefully come soon.

Form

As one pollster noted, Buckley has beaten Reform in an election before (although the situation was very different in 2024):

Gorton and Denton just got a lot more interesting.

Nick Buckley (ex-Reform) ran as an independent for Manchester mayor in 2024 and came 3rd, pushing Reform into 4th place.

If Galloway also announces he is running, then the vote will be so split, 25% will be enough to win. https://t.co/YyO7aLDfQN

— Marwan🇲🇦🇬🇧 (@MarwanData) January 31, 2026

Buckley has made it clear he’s a Manchester local in promotional materials, and also that he doesn’t buy the ‘splitting the vote’ narrative. Speaking of narrative, it’s not entirely clear what Advance UK are offering that’s different to Reform UK, but Buckley has said he thinks the parents of trans people are “mentally ill”:

You can’t defend democracy by telling people not to stand in elections. You may have the best reason in the world but the outcome is only the perception of democracy.
Vote for who you want. This is the only way you have a chance of getting it. The people of Gorton and Denton… pic.twitter.com/O8WonmMAll

— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) January 31, 2026

Regardless of how you feel about this statement (we disagree, obviously), it’s not going to be the most pressing concern for Gorton & Denton residents given the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis.

As we can see elsewhere on Buckley’s profile, the guy clearly thinks that turning up as a white British man is good enough to win:

Discover the Truth Behind the War on England: "Anglophobia" – The Book That Fights Back!

"Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life."
– Cecil Rhodes

We've fallen low as a nation. Anti-white hate is everywhere – accepted,… pic.twitter.com/cNhSFUacLU

— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) November 5, 2025

It seems like some Advance UK members are unhappy, anyway, if the following is anything to go by:

I can’t believe Advance UK are standing a candidate in a by election!! What sort of political party do they think they!! I’m cancelling my membership because I only pretended to want change.

— Nick Buckley MBE (@NickBuckleyMBE) January 31, 2026

It’s generally not a good sign when a party’s members criticise the party for standing in an election.