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Howard Cox (British politician)

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Howard Cox
Cox speaking in December 2025.
BornDecember 1954 (age 71)
Lewisham, London, England
Known forFounder of FairFuelUK
Political party
Restore Britain (since 2026)
Other political
affiliations
SpouseJenny Cox
Children1

Howard Christopher Cox (born December 1954) is a British politician and campaigner, who founded the motorist lobby group FairFuelUK in 2010. He stood as the Reform UK candidate at the 2024 London mayoral election, but later left the party on 'free speech grounds' and joined Advance UK.

FairFuelUK

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FairFuelUK was co-founded by Howard Cox and Quentin Willson in 2010 to campaign against fuel duty increases.[1] The group is funded by the freight industry, including groups such as the Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK.[2] Cox claims to have saved motorists from £200 billion in fuel duty rises.[3]

In August 2021, Willson left the group, accusing it of spreading "urban myths" about electric vehicles. Cox stated that he hadn't spoken to Willson for three years.[1]

In March 2022, an investigation by DeSmog found that Cox, who was involved with the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on fair fuel, was a director of Ultimum, a company which marketed a fuel additive. Cox denied there being any conflict of interest.[4]

After the outbreak of the Iran war in March 2026, FairFuelUK called on Rachel Reeves to cut fuel duty in order to relieve inflation pressures.[5]

Political career

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Cox was a lifelong supporter of the Conservatives prior to 9 May 2023, when he was selected as the Reform UK candidate for the 2024 London mayoral elections.[6] He said he would abolish both the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs),[7][8] whilst also campaigning to triple the number of police officers on the beat, build more social housing and improve access to 5G mobile.[9][10] In May 2024, The Independent reported that a cabinet minister had written to Rishi Sunak asking that Cox become the Conservative mayoral candidate.[11]

At the concurrent London Assembly election, Cox was Reform's second-placed candidate on the Londonwide list.[12] He placed fifth with 78,865 votes (3.1%),[13] thus losing his £10,000 deposit.

At the 2024 general election, Cox was asked by Nigel Farage to stand as the Reform UK candidate in Dover and Deal.[14] Mike Tapp won the seat, whilst Cox placed second with 11,355 votes (23.8%).[15]

In November 2024, Cox, along with Ben Habib, condemned comments made by Richard Tice saying that Reform wanted nothing to do with Tommy Robinson and ‘all of that lot’.[16] Cox left the party in January 2025, saying that he had been told to “keep clear” of Robinson or else he would be removed.[17][18]

By August 2025, he had been announced as a "college member" in Advance UK, a political party led by Habib.[19] Following the deregistration of Advance UK in July 2026, Cox, when asked about Restore Britain, said that he was a "dear friend" of Rupert Lowe, but expressed concerns over racism and radicalism within the inner circle of the party.[20]

In July 2026, he paid tribute to the late Ann Widdecombe, saying: "She should have been the second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher."[21]

On 18 August 2026, Cox was announced as the Restore Britain transport spokesman.[22]

Elections contested

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House of Commons

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Year Constituency Party Votes % Position
2024 Dover and Deal Reform UK 11,355 23.8 2nd

London mayoral elections

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Year Party Votes % Position
2024 Reform UK 78,865 3.1 5th

London Assembly

[edit]
Year Party Election Votes % Result
2024 Reform UK London-wide list 145,409 5.9 Not elected

Personal life

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Cox is married and has one child.[23]

References

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  1. 1 2 Cuff, Madeleine (13 September 2021). "Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson accuses FairFuelUK group he created of peddling myths". The i Paper. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Waterson, Jim (26 September 2021). "Fuel tax lobbyist blames 'militant cyclist' for listing home as petrol station". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "Who are the London mayoral candidates?". Metro. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Walker, Peter; Barnett, Adam; Collett-White, Rich (2 March 2022). "Lobbyist opposed to UK petrol cars ban is director of fuel additive firm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Leathers, Samantha (2 March 2026). "Rachel Reeves told to freeze fuel duty over Middle East unrest". The Mirror.
  6. ↑ "Reform UK select Howard Cox as London mayoral candidate". BBC News. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Vickers, Noah (10 May 2023). "Reform UK's London mayoral candidate vows to scrap Ulez and abolish LTNs". The Standard. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Riley-Smith, Ben (9 May 2023). "Reform reveals London Mayor candidate is fuel campaigner who wants to scale back 20mph limits". The Telegraph.
  9. ↑ "Anti-Ulez Reform UK candidate Howard Cox launches London mayoral campaign". ITV News. 10 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "London Mayoral Election 2024: Howard Cox – Reform UK". The Independent. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Senior Tories wanted right-wing Reform candidate for London mayor – not Susan Hall". The Independent. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Hill, Dave (6 April 2024). "Could Reform UK win a London Assembly seat? Or even two?". OnLondon. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "London mayor election: Sadiq Khan clinches historic third term". BBC News. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Dover And Deal Is More Than A Small Boats Story". Politics Home. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "General election for the constituency of Dover and Deal on 4 July 2024". UK Parliament election results. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Mason, Rowena; Walker, Peter (1 November 2024). "Splits in Reform UK as senior figures defend Tommy Robinson supporters". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Grassroots anger tests Nigel Farage's grip on Reform UK". BBC News. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Quinn, Ben (10 January 2025). "Pressure on Nigel Farage as Reform UK councillors resign over his leadership". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Holl-Allen, Genevieve (27 August 2025). "Revealed: Elon Musk urged Farage rival to set up new party". The Daily Telegraph.
  20. ↑ Baillie, Cameron. "How Britain's further-right is animating Makerfield". prospectmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Shock as death of Kent MP Ann Widdecombe becomes murder inquiry". BBC News. 10 July 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Devereux, Callum (19 August 2026). "Fair Fuel UK boss joins Restore Britain, pledges to liberate drivers but admits e-bikes in London are "fantastic"". road.cc. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "What's driving Howard Cox? We meet the anti-ULEZ campaigner from Kent running to be Mayor of London". Kent Online. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
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