Raheem Kassam, the top editor of Breitbart’s London bureau, announced on Wednesday that he is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Kassam told TheWrap that he was considering a challenge to Mayor Sadiq Khan.
“I loved my time at Breitbart News. I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that, at least in part, we changed the world. But all good things come to an end, and while I’ll still chirp up on Breitbart from time to time, I need to do my own thing,” Kassam told TheWrap. “Sadiq Khan is up for re-election in 2020. He needs a good challenger.”
Kassam formally announced the news on his Facebook page Wednesday, where in addition to offering his farewells and teasing more direct political involvement, he pressed his fans to support his work financially through a Patreon page.
“You guys have been urging me to get more stuck in with day to day politics so I am. But now I don’t have a regular salary, I’m gonna rely on you guys to help a brother out,” he said, “Maybe it works, and we fix things, or maybe I become homeless. But either way, fighting for the West and for my country is worth the risk.”
https://www.facebook.com/raheemkassam/posts/820581781484491
Kassam will be replaced as London chief by his deputy, Oliver Lane.
Kassam has served as editor-in-chief of Breitbart London for more three years. Before that, he previously worked as a chief advisor of UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage. Kassam had also been a close ally of Steve Bannon during the former White House chief strategist’s tenure leading the company. The two remain in touch.
Bannon was ousted from Breitbart in January after making disparaging remarks about President Trump and his family to author Michael Wolff. Both of their departures come amid a broad reorientation of Breitbart’s message to a less inflammatory style.
Reps for Breitbart did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap.