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Advance UK
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Advance UK

Right-wing UK party led by Ben Habib, launched 2025 and deregistered in July 2026.

Ben Habib's right-wing party was deregistered on 10 July 2026 and folded into the Great British Political Action Committee, yet its label outlived it: Durham County Council's list of members still showed one Advance UK councillor in October 2026.

Last refreshed: 7 October 2026

Timeline for Advance UK

#18 15 Sept
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Background

Advance UK was a right-wing party led by Ben Habib, a former deputy leader of Reform UK. It launched on 30 June 2025, set itself to Reform's right, and drew many members WHO had left Reform or been expelled from it.

On 3 June 2026 Habib announced that the party would de-register. He argued that several parties chasing the same vote could not serve Britain once Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain had moved into that space. Advance UK came off The Register on 10 July 2026 and merged into the Great British Political Action Committee.

The name lingered on council benches after the party itself had gone. In October 2026 Durham County Council's councillors-by-party list still recorded one Advance UK member, at a time when Reform's own group there had fallen to 50 of the 98 seats.

Common Questions
Who led Advance UK?
Ben Habib, the former Reform UK deputy leader, led it until it deregistered in July 2026.Source: UnHerd
Is Advance UK still a registered political party?
No. Habib announced de-registration on 3 June 2026; it was deregistered on 10 July 2026 and merged into the Great British Political Action Committee.Source: UnHerd; Wikipedia
Why did Advance UK close?
Habib said several parties competing for the same patriotic vote could not serve Britain, after Restore Britain emerged.Source: UnHerd
Does Advance UK have a councillor on Durham County Council?
Durham County Council's list by party showed one Advance UK councillor in October 2026.Source: Durham County Council
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