Howard Cox (British politician)

Howard Cox is a British politician and founder of FairFuelUK, a campaign 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]

Howard Cox
Born1954
NationalityBritish
Known forFounder of FairFuelUK
Political partyReform UK
Children1

FairFuelUK

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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.[5] 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.[6] Ultimum Ltd was dissolved in December 2022.[7]

Political career

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2024 London mayoral and Assembly elections

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On May 10, 2023, Cox announced his candidacy for the 2024 London mayoral election, representing Reform UK.[8] 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][9] Cox finished in 5th place, gathering 3.1% of the total votes.[10]

At the concurrent London Assembly election, he was Reform's second-placed candidate on the Londonwide list. [11] He was not elected, with Alex Wilson becoming the party's sole member in the Assembly.[12][13]

2024 General election

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On 28 May 2024, at Reform UK's campaign launch ahead of the 2024 general election, Cox revealed that he would be standing as their candidate for Dover and Deal.[14][15] 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.[16][17]

Columnist

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Cox has written opinion pieces for GB News,[18] The Sun,[19] and the Daily Express.[20]

Personal life

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Cox is married and has one child.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Who is Howard Cox? Reform UK London mayoral candidate who wants to 'ditch Sadiq Khan'". Sky News. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ "Who is the Reform UK London mayoral candidate Howard Cox?". BBC News. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  3. ^ a b "What's driving Howard Cox? We meet the anti-ULEZ campaigner from Kent running to be Mayor of London". Kent Online. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  4. ^ a b "Howard Cox | London Elects". www.londonelects.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  5. ^ "FairFuelUK". Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  6. ^ Walker, Peter; Barnett, Adam; Collett-White, Rich (2022-03-02). "Lobbyist opposed to UK petrol cars ban is director of fuel additive firm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  7. ^ "ULTIMUM LTD overview - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  8. ^ "Anti-Ulez Reform UK candidate Howard Cox launches London mayoral campaign". ITV News. 10 May 2023.
  9. ^ Ahmed, Jabed (2024-04-29). "London Mayoral Election 2024: Howard Cox – Reform UK". The Independent. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  10. ^ "Total Mayor of London results 2024 | London Elects". www.londonelects.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  11. ^ "Could Reform UK win a London Assembly seat? Or even two?". On London. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Howard Cox for Greater London Authority". Who Can I Vote For?. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Mayoral election 2024: Reform UK candidate gets seat on London Assembly". Yahoo Finance. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Howard Cox is standing for Reform UK in Dover". X. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Analysis: Nigel Farage in Dover for Reform election campaign launch 'like Ukip tribute act circa 2015'". Kent Online. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Dover and Deal - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Election result for Dover and Deal (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  18. ^ Cox, Howard. "Latest stories from Howard Cox | GB News". GB News. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  19. ^ Cox, Howard (2024-02-21). "Motorists are still being ripped off at pumps - Jeremy Hunt must cut fuel duty". The Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  20. ^ Cox, Howard (2024-03-30). "I will sack police chiefs that put wokery before tackling crime, says Howard Cox". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-19.