Disaster has struck for Nigel Farage as a major donor vows to put Reform UK “out of business”.

Former Newcastle United owner Sir John Hall has rejoined the Conservatives after defecting to Reform UK, being snapped with Nigel Farage ahead of the election.

He has previously donated more than £500,000 to the Tories and an undisclosed amount to Reform UK.

Despite speaking at a Reform rally in Houghton-le-Spring in June, Hall appeared keen to express his support for ex-Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick.

Speaking to Jenrick during a visit to Newcastle, the 92-year-old said: “I’m basically concerned for the culture of our nation and the way it’s going.”

He added: “In the coming leadership election, I would hope people like yourselves will come with another message.”

Jenrick replied: “That’s what I’m trying to do. That’s why I’m standing to be leader of the party.”

Hall responded: “That’s a difficult task. I wish you well. Hopefully you’ll try to deliver it. Without those thoughts and wishes, our areas will have no champions to fight for us.”

Jenrick added: “This is a great country and this is a great part of our country. But we’ve got to give it hope and optimism, and that’s what the Conservative Party has got to do in the future.”

Farage welcomed Hall into Reform UK with open arms in June, expressing the populist party’s “delight” at his defection from the Tories.

The Clacton MP wrote on social media: “It says a lot when a man like Sir John Hall, after decades of public support for the Conservative Party, is now supporting Reform UK.”

Hall, who grew up in a Northumberland mining family, is now supporting a candidate determined to make Reform UK “redundant”.

Speaking to ITV, the Tory leadership hopeful said: “I want to put Reform out of business. I want to make them redundant, because I want to have clear policies on legal and illegal migration.”