SAM MACRORY
When it was announced, in September 2014, that Arron Banks was donating £100,000 to Ukip, William Hague dismissed the former Tory donor as “somebody we haven’t heard of.” Furious, Banks upped his donation to £1,000,000. “Now he knows who I am,” the Bristol-based businessman declared. And two years later, Banks was one of the very first Brits to meet President-Elect Donald Trump after his victory. Banks’s political influence and profile have come a long way. Perhaps inspired by Trump’s victory, he intends to go further still.
But his future plans are unlikely to include Nigel Farage, the kindred spirit with whom he shares a deep loathing of the European Union, whose political path he has—until now—followed, and all the way to Trump Tower. Today, however, Banks’s support for Ukip is “probably” over and, he said, Farage is “not a massive fan” of his plans for some novel form of disruptive movement. Why not? “In many ways Nigel is quite cautious; as a politician I don’t think he quite sees the disconnect.” So he won’t be leading Banks’s new movement? “I think he’s done his bit,” Banks replies, laughing. “I shouldn’t think Nigel should assume he’s got the job. We all need a break. It’s been a hell of a 2016.”