Howard Cox | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1954 (age 70) Lewisham, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Founder of FairFuelUK |
| Political party | Advance UK (since 2025) |
| Other political affiliations | Reform UK (2023–2025) |
| Children | 1 |
Howard Christopher Cox (born December 1954) is a British politician and pro-motorist campaigner, known for being the founder of FairFuelUK, a group lobbying to freeze fuel tax and keep petrol prices down. [1] [2] [3] Cox participated in the 2024 London mayoral election, representing Reform UK. [4] In early 2025, Cox left Reform UK on "free speech grounds". [5]
Cox founded the FairFuelUK pressure group in 2010. The campaign claimed to have saved drivers over £200bn in planned tax hikes in duty and VAT. [6] FairFuelUK claims its funding comes from regular donations from supporters and in the past has come from Logistics UK, the Road Haulage Association, the RAC, Association of Pallet Networks, UKLPG and others.[ citation needed ]
In 2022, it was found that Cox, who was at that time part of the "All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers", was also a director of a company called Ultimum, which markets a fuel additive. Cox denied any conflict of interest. [7] Ultimum Ltd was dissolved in December 2022. [8]
On May 10, 2023, Cox announced his candidacy for the 2024 London mayoral election, representing Reform UK. [9] Cox's positions included scrapping the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and refunding all fines and fees collected in the 2023 outer expansion of the ULEZ. [4] [10] Cox finished in 5th place, gathering 3.1% of the total votes. [11]
At the concurrent London Assembly election, Cox was Reform's second-placed candidate on the Londonwide list. [12] He was not elected, with top candidate Alex Wilson becoming the party's sole member in the Assembly. [13] [14]
On 28 May 2024, at Reform UK's campaign launch for the July general election, Cox announced that he would be running in the Dover and Deal constituency. [15] [16] He finished runner up to the successful Labour candidate, Mike Tapp. In total, Cox polled 11,355 votes (23.8%), pushing the Conservatives into third place. [17] [18]
In October 2024, Cox was at odds with the party leadership over his support of far-right activist, Tommy Robinson. [19] The disagreements between Cox and Reform came after a rally on 26 October, which was held in response to Robinson being remanded in custody after breaching a court order prohibiting him from spreading false statements about a Syrian refugee. [20] [21] [22] [23] Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform, distanced himself from both Robinson and the supporters, telling GB News that the party "wants nothing to do with all of that lot". Cox, in response, said to broadcaster Dan Wootton: "This week, unfortunately, Richard … said I want nothing to do with Tommy Robinson or his lot. It’s a bit sad because I’m a good friend of Richard and we are close but that was wrong … I am one of that lot. Nigel actually did contact me privately and he just simply said Richard went over the top." [24] [25]
In early January 2025, Cox announced that he had left Reform UK. [26] [27] In a subsequent interview, he claimed that a senior member of the party had told him not to mention Tommy Robinson, or risk being expelled from Reform. Expanding on this, Cox said: "Now there's what I call a dictatorship, and you can quote me on that. I believe Reform UK is a dictatorship, and it doesn't allow people to think." He again reiterated his support for Robinson's work in highlighting the Grooming gangs scandal, and described him as a "political prisoner." [28]
In April 2025, Cox revealed that he had joined the Integrity Party, a splinter group from Reform, including members such as ex-deputy leader Ben Habib. [29] [30] [31] Habib would go on to launch Advance UK in late June 2025, with Cox subsequently joining the party. In addition to this, he became a member of The College, part of Advance UK's governing body. [32] [33] [34]
Cox is married and has one child. [3]
Howard Cox already joined.......... Rupert Lowe likely next - then not only do they have a base - they have a credible MP in Parliament who has already shafted Farage and Reform on their 'rape gang' rhetoric but no action....... as the Great British PAC Ben also involved with launch a data base in relation to the same