Ben Habib is The Unlikely Hero Britain Never Knew It Needed

If anyone had whispered a year ago that Sir Keir Starmer could recruit Ben Habib - the flamboyant property mogul, ex-Reform UK firebrand, and unabashed champion of “Trumpian” deal-making — as our next Ambassador to the United States, I would have suggested a brisk walk and a mug of strong tea. And yet, here we stand: post-Brexit trade woes biting at our heels, a second Donald Trump term hovering like an ominous cloud, and the relentless roar of populism in our ears. Suddenly, the notion of parachuting Habib into Washington isn’t just plausible, it is a stroke of near-mad genius. Against all odds, this once-ridiculed proposition might be the boldest, savviest diplomatic play Britain has made in decades.

Habib’s journey is a political roller coaster in its own right. He soared to notoriety alongside Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party, then Reform UK, only to part ways when he felt the outfit lost its strategic footing. Once a loyal lieutenant in the crusade against Brussels, Habib is now a free agent—his charismatic, anti-establishment sheen still intact, but no longer tethered to Farage’s wagon.

And that’s precisely why The Labour Party should snap him up. By giving him the plum role as the British Ambassador to the USA at the British Embassy Washington , Starmer could simultaneously:

? Woo back voters who felt Labour abandoned Brexit supporters,

? Flaunt a pro-business stance that might placate the City of London, and

? Quietly co-opt the populist message while undercutting Farage’s momentum.

It’s a gambit that might make Tory backbenchers spit out their tea, but then again, politics is all about stealing your opponent’s thunder. And stranger things have happened in the past 10 years.

Could Habib Out-Deal the Donald?

Let’s not forget: Trump adores a deal—and a show. He has swooped back into the Oval Office, and the fireworks in the form of new tariffs and that trademark “America First” bravado has already kicked off. Imagine a timid, grey-suited, career politician facing Trump. No wonder Lord Peter Mandelson is no more than a cowering rabbit being thrown to a fox in his current role as the British Ambassador. But Ben Habib? He is a property mogul in his own right, with extensive experience honed at First Property Group, who knows how to talk big money, big margins, and big headlines.

Habib is pro-business, open to forging ties with America, and unafraid to challenge folks who wield power. That’s a language Trump might actually respect. If Washington slaps a 35% tariff on British autos, do you want a cautious Lord Mandelson politely objecting, or a bulldog calling out the White House for self-defeating protectionism? Habib might be precisely the bulldog we need—able to speak the lingo of commercial realpolitik and come back with a better trade deal than we’ve seen in years. Who knows, we might even see a photo-op of Habib giving Trump a guided tour of British cheeses, explaining why reciprocal tariffs hurt US dairy farmers too. Stranger things have happened in this so-called special relationship.

Faith, Friction, and the Wahabi Wildcard

Yet there’s more to Habib than property deals and brash talk. He’s a proud British Muslim of Pakistani descent who’s never shied away from uncomfortable conversations. He’s spoken openly about Wahabi extremism within certain communities, underscoring the need for Muslims themselves to confront radical ideologies. In a country where grooming gangs and integration debates still inflame passions, Labour has often been accused of sweeping such issues under the rug to appease vote banks. However, to be realistically considered by Kier Starmer for the job, Ben will also need to swallow a bit of his pride, and come out in a conciliatory manner to build bridges with Labour's political leadership. Who knows, he might even be able to coach Rt Hon Rachel Reeves with discreet lessons in Macro Economics?

This is the point where Habib’s appointment flips the usual script. A man who commands respect in the business world, fiercely identifies as British, and unapologetically calls out grooming scandals or hard-line religious infiltration? Suddenly, it becomes much harder for the populist right to claim Labour is “soft” on controversial topics. Meanwhile, moderate Muslims will welcome a British Muslim voice at the highest level of diplomacy, showing that mainstream success doesn’t mean ducking tough topics.

And across the pond, the optics of a British Muslim Ambassador robustly defending UK interests in a White House meeting could help redefine stale stereotypes. Rather than tiptoeing around, he might hold his own with trademark confidence, bridging cultural gaps through the very directness that some find alarming. In this hyperconnected age of headlines and tweets (or Xs, if you must), that might be exactly how diplomacy gets done.

This Could Be The Diplomatic Gamble That Would Rewrite History

Will Labour dare to shock us all? The biggest question still remains: Will Starmer actually go for it? On the face of it, hoisting an ex-Reform UK, pro-Brexit, pro-business operator into the Ambassador’s chair seems as likely as reanimating Winston Churchill to handle foreign affairs. But if Labour is serious about neutralising the threat of a revived Farage or a (down-and-dusted, but attempting-to-be) resurgent The Conservative Party , few moves are as brilliantly unpredictable as nominating Ben Habib as our man in Washington.

He’d disarm the right by embodying the patriotism, entrepreneurial spirit, and robust stance on Islamic radicalism that populist movements usually claim as their own. He’d reassure businesses that the UK is open to trade, not closed in protectionist illusions. He’d prove that Labour isn’t shy about forging a workable relationship with Trump 2.0. In short, it’s the ultimate political alchemy—merging seemingly incompatible ingredients into a potent solution for Britain’s uncertain future.

Yes, it’s a gamble. But in an era where conventional diplomacy sometimes falls flat against the tide of social media storms, maybe it takes a flamboyant operator like Habib to keep Britain’s voice booming across the Atlantic. If Starmer wants to show the world a bold new era of Labour, shocking the old guardsmen might be the perfect plan.

So keep your eyes on Westminster. If a hush falls over Parliament and the rumour mill starts swirling, don’t be shocked to see a wry-smiling Ben Habib soon boarding a flight to Washington. We’ve had ambassadors who memorised the art of polite diplomacy; perhaps it’s time for an envoy who negotiates with the panache of a property baron and the conviction of a man who’s seen the inside of populist politics—yet refuses to let it define him.

Could this be the diplomatic master stroke of the decade? Quite possibly. And in this post-Brexit, Trump-2.0 carnival, sometimes the wildest ideas turn out to be the saving grace no one saw coming.

Amen to that.

Kundan Bhaduri is the Chairman of The Board at The Kushman Group, a leading real estate developer and professional landlord based in Kent. With two decades of experience across diverse industries including technology, sales, banking, and real estate, Kundan started his business from a kitchen table and has grown it into one of Kent’s fastest-growing family-owned property ventures. The Kushman Group is on track to become one of the largest Professional Landlords in the region.

Kundan holds an International MBA from IE Business School in Spain and an honours degree in Engineering, both completed in the top 5% of his class. A first-generation immigrant, he arrived in Britain some 15 years ago as a ‘Highly Skilled Migrant’ (when that still meant something), starting life in a squalid house share in East London with little more than one set of clothes and a fistful of subsistence money.

Through his writing and commentary, Kundan advocates for Britain as a force for good globally and argues that British citizenship should be seen as a privilege, not an entitlement. He champions a society built on meritocracy, individual responsibility, and national pride, arguing that these principles are the foundation of a prosperous nation. Unapologetically critical of the culture of entitlement and identity politics, Kundan calls for policies that promote hard work, fairness, and the rule of law. He strives for a society where businesses grow, families feel protected, and communities thrive on the foundations of integrity and ambition.        

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