Richard Tice is one of the most influential and enduring figures behind Britain’s populist right and the post-Brexit political realignment. Businessman, political strategist, party leader, and donor, Tice has left his mark on UK politics as both a behind-the-scenes financier and a front-facing reformer. Now an MP for Boston and Skegness, he remains central to Reform UK’s rise — even after stepping down as its leader.
This profile charts Tice’s journey from a career in real estate and business, through the Brexit wars, to his 2024 election to Parliament and ongoing role as a financier and strategist in Britain’s most prominent insurgent party.
Early Life and Business Career
Born on 13 September 1964, Richard James Sunley Tice was raised in the United Kingdom in a family with a history in business and property. He was privately educated at Uppingham School and later earned a degree in construction economics and quantity surveying from Salford University.
Tice quickly rose through the ranks of the property development world. He became a prominent figure in commercial real estate, holding senior roles at companies like Sunley Holdings and later as CEO of CLS Holdings, a property investment firm with a focus on office space across Europe. Under his leadership, the company grew significantly, and he established a reputation for bold deals and financial acumen.
He also served as co-founder of Quidnet Capital, a real estate investment fund, and became a frequent commentator in the property and business press. These roles gave Tice both the wealth and the connections that would later fund and drive his political career.
Early Political Engagement and Brexit Activism
Though not initially known as a political operator, Tice’s Eurosceptic leanings led him to become increasingly involved in politics during the 2010s, especially as the UK’s relationship with the European Union became more contentious.
Tice was a major donor to the Conservative Party, supporting what he saw as its historic commitment to economic liberalism and national sovereignty. But as the party under David Cameron drifted towards a more centrist, pro-European stance, Tice grew disillusioned.
In 2015, he co-founded Leave.EU, one of the major pro-Brexit campaigns, alongside businessman Arron Banks and journalist Andy Wigmore. Though not selected as the official campaign for the referendum, Leave.EU played a key role in shaping the populist tone of the Leave movement. Tice also became a regular media presence, promoting arguments for leaving the EU on economic, democratic, and sovereignty grounds.
By the time of the 2016 EU referendum, Tice had already become a committed activist and funder on the Brexit front lines. After the vote to Leave, and as Parliament began what became years of turmoil and delays over the Brexit process, Tice moved closer to the political spotlight.
Founding the Brexit Party
Frustrated with what he saw as Parliament’s failure to honour the referendum result, Richard Tice partnered with Nigel Farage in 2019 to launch a new political force: The Brexit Party.
Tice was instrumental in financing the new organisation. He provided capital, business experience, and operational leadership. While Farage became the charismatic public face, Tice handled strategy, candidate selection, and logistics.
The Brexit Party stunned the political establishment by winning the 2019 European Parliament elections, just weeks after its founding. Tice himself was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the East of England. The party won more votes than the Conservatives and Labour combined, with its message of democratic betrayal and Brexit urgency resonating across the country.
As an MEP, Tice continued to campaign for a clean break from the EU and used his platform to push for a WTO-style departure, arguing against compromise agreements like Theresa May’s deal or even Boris Johnson’s revised withdrawal agreement.
Transition to Reform UK
Following the UK’s formal exit from the EU, the Brexit Party rebranded in 2021 as Reform UK, positioning itself as a broader populist party concerned with issues like lockdown scepticism, freedom of speech, immigration, and government inefficiency.
Tice became leader of Reform UK in March 2021, taking over from Farage, who stepped back from formal politics. Under Tice’s leadership, the party aimed to fill the political space vacated by UKIP and the Brexit Party — attracting disaffected Conservative voters, Red Wall traditionalists, and lockdown critics.
Tice stood for Parliament in the 2021 Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election, but came third. Nevertheless, he maintained a high media profile, regularly appearing on GB News, TalkTV, and other outlets to articulate Reform’s positions on taxation, immigration, and net zero.
Standing Down as Leader Before the 2024 Election
In a surprise move, Tice stepped down as leader of Reform UK in June 2024, just weeks before the general election. He announced that Nigel Farage would return as party leader to spearhead the campaign — a decision that electrified Reform’s base and drew immediate national attention.
Tice said the move was strategic: Farage had the public profile to maximise votes and “get Reform over the line” in key constituencies. He accepted a supporting role, staying on as Chairman of the party and standing as a parliamentary candidate himself.
His decision was widely seen as selfless and pragmatic, prioritising the movement over personal ambition — a move that paid off electorally.
Elected MP for Boston and Skegness
In the July 2024 general election, Richard Tice was elected MP for Boston and Skegness, one of Reform UK’s first seats in the House of Commons. The constituency, located in Lincolnshire, had one of the highest Leave votes in the 2016 referendum and had grown increasingly disillusioned with the Conservative Party.
Tice’s campaign focused on immigration control, energy policy reform, and cost-of-living concerns. He highlighted the Conservative government’s failure to stop illegal immigration, soaring energy prices due to net zero policies, and the growing sense of disenfranchisement in rural England.
His victory solidified his position as a founding father of Reform UK — no longer just a donor or strategist, but now a fully elected parliamentarian.
Financer and Strategist
Even after stepping down as party leader, Tice remains one of Reform UK’s principal funders and strategic minds. His wealth and business network provide crucial support to the party’s infrastructure, digital operations, and candidate recruitment efforts.
He continues to serve as Deputy Leader of Reform UK, focusing on long-term strategy and policy development. Tice has also been involved in high-level discussions about the party’s economic and constitutional reform agenda, including proposals for proportional representation and civil service reform.
Personal Life and Media Profile
Richard Tice has been in a public relationship with Isabel Oakeshott, the political journalist and commentator known for her work with The Sunday Times, TalkTV, and for her involvement in the leaking of Matt Hancock’s pandemic-era WhatsApp messages.
Their relationship has attracted media attention, particularly given Oakeshott’s controversial profile and polarising public statements. The couple reportedly split their time between the UK and Dubai, where Oakeshott has been based periodically in recent years. Tice has spoken about working remotely when not in Parliament and the flexibility that modern technology offers for political engagement.
Final takeaway
Richard Tice is a rare breed in British politics: a wealthy businessman who has converted financial backing into lasting political impact. From bankrolling Brexit to founding the Brexit Party, from party leadership to winning a parliamentary seat, Tice has played a pivotal role in shaping the populist right in the UK.
Now an elected MP, he continues to exert influence not only as a politician but as a strategist and financier — a behind-the-scenes architect of Reform UK’s rise. Though he stepped aside to allow Nigel Farage to take centre stage in 2024, Richard Tice’s fingerprints remain on every major move the party makes. Should Reform UK form a government, it seems highly likely he will occupy one of the great offices of state.
