The Duke of Norfolk is set to host a dinner for Reform donors at Arundel Castle

On 29 May, Edward Fitzalan-Howard – the Duke of Norfolk – will host Reform UK donors for lunch at Arundel Castle. Because, you know, nothing says ‘man of the people’ like hobnobbing with the aristocracy in your Duke mate’s 11th-century family fort.

Of course, Fitzalan-Howard isn’t the only member of the UK’s aristos who’s been getting pally with Farage of late. Strap in, folks – we’re taking a quick tour of Britain’s ‘noble-born’ bigots, and there’s more double-barreled names than you can shake a stick at.

Farage’s host, the Duke of Norfolk

Fitzalan-Howard himself fits in great alongside the rest of Reform’s assorted, undeserving toffs. He’s an unaffiliated crossbench peer, and one of the last generation to inherit a seat in the Lords.

In spite of the UK (finally) having eliminated hereditary peerages, Fitzalan-Howard won a concession to keep his ceremonial role because he’s useful for organising the bigwigs’ parties. However, he no longer gets to sit in the House of Lords. (We shed a tear, we really do.)

In response to questioning by the Financial Times, Fitzalan-Howard insisted that he’s not a Reform supporter. In fact, he’s also hosting a party for the Tories in June, with the stated aim of drawing attention to insect collapse and other environmental causes.

He told the Financial Times that, in the news outlet’s phrasing, he’d:

be interested in supporting any party that championed protection of nature.

We guess Fitzalan-Howard must have missed Reform’s climate-change denialism and support for fracking. That’s before we get to the party’s repeated attacks on the global effort to limit carbon emissions to ‘Net Zero’. Do you think maybe his castle doesn’t take newspaper deliveries?

In any case, Farage is scheduled to speak at the luncheon at Arundel on 29 May. Let’s hope he doesn’t mention plans to scrap EU-legacy protections for the UK’s fragile ecosystem, hey?

A who’s whom of Reform donors

OK, so that’s Fitzalan-Howard out the way. What about the rest of the gentry who’re keeping Farage in their families’ pockets?

First up, Fiona Cottrell is the daughter of the third Baron Manton. She’s donated £750,000 to Reform over the last couple of years.

Oh, and her son, ‘Posh George’ Cottrell, happens to be Farage’s far-right-hand man. As to the the exact nature of his work as a political aide, one Reform staffer told the Spectator that:

There is one rule: don’t ask what George does.

Not that this really matters, given that Posh George is:

ever-present, well-connected and willing to spend large amounts of money.

Next up, Frederick Hatton Fermor-Hesketh – of the Hesketh baronetcy, don’t you know – gave Farage’s party £11,500 last October.

Likewise, Robin Birley – son of Lady Annabel Goldsmith, nee Vane-Tempest-Stewart – donated £25,000 to Reform. He also puts on events for the far-right party at one of his Mayfair clubs.

Last but not least, Claudia Caroline Harmsworth – the Viscountess Rothermere – handed Reform some £50,000. Harmsworth’s husband, Jonathan Harold Esmond Vere Harmsworth, owns the Daily Mail, the i Newspaper, and the Metro. Nothing to see there, we’re sure.

Voice of which people, exactly?

Christ, try saying those names five times fast. Include their titles too, if you fancy a real challenge.

Reform UK loves to sell itself as the ‘voice of the people’. Well, they’re certainly the voice of some people – particularly, it seems, if they have claims to a baronetcy, a lordship, maybe even a castle or two.

But Farage poses with a pint and a cigarette in the pub, so he’s definitely on the side of the ordinary worker, right?

Featured image via Getty Images / Traveladventure