You’ve probably heard the name Michael Farmer Baron Farmer tossed around in political circles or maybe in the aggressive, high-stakes world of commodities trading. Most people just call him "Mr. Copper." It’s a heavy title, earned over sixty years of watching red metal move across the globe. But if you think he’s just another City fat cat with a title and a deep pocket, you’re missing the most interesting parts of the story.
Honestly, his life reads like a Victorian novel updated for the 21st century. We’re talking about a guy who started with literally nothing—earning eight quid a week—and ended up as one of the most influential voices in the House of Lords. He didn’t just make money; he tried to change how the UK thinks about families and prisoners. It’s a weird, fascinating mix of ruthless metal trading and deep, born-again Christian conviction.
The Making of Mr. Copper
Michael Farmer wasn't born into the elite. Not even close. He was born in Tonbridge in 1944. His childhood? He’s described it as "violent and chaotic." Poverty and neglect were the baseline. When he started working at 18 as a messenger and clerk for AJ Strauss, he was just trying to survive.
But he had a knack for the markets. By 30, he was a managing director at Cerro Metals. Eventually, he became a protégé of Manfred Kopelman, a legend in the game. Farmer didn't just trade copper; he understood the plumbing of the global economy. By the time he founded the Red Kite Group in 2005, he was essentially responsible for shipping 15% to 20% of the copper China needed to build its cities.
Think about that for a second. One man’s decisions impacted the infrastructure of the world’s fastest-growing superpower. Red Kite wasn't just a hedge fund; it was a titan. In 2013, their metals fund returned over 50%. You don't see numbers like that very often in the boring world of physical commodities.
The Pivot to Michael Farmer Baron Farmer
Success in the City usually leads to a quiet retirement in the country. Not for Michael Farmer. He’s always been an outlier. At age 35, something shifted. He became a born-again Christian—an experience he says happened "overnight."
This wasn't just a Sunday hobby. It fundamentally changed how he viewed his wealth and his responsibility.
He became a massive donor to the Conservative Party, giving over £6 million between 2012 and 2022. But he didn't give just to get a seat at the table. He had a specific "thing." When he first met David Cameron, Cameron asked what he cared about. Farmer’s answer was simple: "Families."
In 2014, he was made a life peer. As Michael Farmer Baron Farmer, he didn't use the House of Lords to talk about metal prices or interest rates. He used it to talk about women’s homelessness, domestic violence, and why kids in the UK are suffering because of "family breakdown."
The Farmer Review: More Than Just Paper
In 2017, the Ministry of Justice asked him to look at something most politicians ignore: how family ties affect reoffending.
👉 See also: Why 1 pound in rs varies so much and how to actually get the best rate
The "Farmer Review" was a landmark. It basically argued that if you want a man to stop committing crimes, you need to help him stay connected to his wife, children, and parents. It’s not just "soft" social work; it’s a hard-headed strategy to reduce the £18 billion annual cost of reoffending. He followed it up in 2019 with a specific review for female offenders. He’s still pushing for these changes today, even into 2026.
Navigating the Ethical Maze
The metal trade is a "mucky business," to use a phrase from one of his own interviews. It’s a world of ethical gray areas and global power plays. Farmer has navigated this for decades, dealing with the Soviet Union before 1990 and China during its explosive growth.
He hasn't escaped controversy, though. His association with the Red Kite Group saw a massive legal battle with Barclays over copper price manipulation. They eventually settled, but it was a reminder that the world "Mr. Copper" inhabits is sharp-edged.
Then there’s the family stuff. His son, George Farmer, is the former CEO of Parlement Technologies (the parent company of Parler) and is married to the controversial American commentator Candace Owens. Recently, Lord Farmer had to publicly distance himself from his daughter-in-law after some pretty intense antisemitic remarks she made. He’s the Christian Deputy Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews, so it was a messy, public collision of his private life and his public values.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume he’s just a "Brexit-backing donor." While it's true he supported leaving the EU, his motivations are usually rooted in a very specific worldview about national sovereignty and social justice. He’s a "social justice" Tory, which is a rare breed these days.
He cycles from his office to the House of Lords. He still preaches at St Helen’s Church in the City. He manages a working farm in Hampshire. He's a man of contradictions:
- A hedge fund billionaire who talks about "poverty and shame."
- A metal trader who spent his career in an "ethical maze."
- A political heavyweight who focuses on the "unsexy" stuff like family hubs.
Why This Matters to You
So, why care about Michael Farmer Baron Farmer in 2026? Because he represents a bridge between the old-school City of London and a modern approach to social policy. His work on "Family Hubs" is now a real thing in the UK—places where families can get early help before things spiral out of control.
If you're interested in how wealth can be used for more than just buying yachts, Farmer is the case study. He’s shown that a background in ruthless commodities trading can actually provide the organizational grit needed to tackle messy social issues like prison reform.
Actionable Insights for Moving Forward
If you want to understand the impact of his work or apply his principles to your own sphere, here is where to look:
- Read the Farmer Review (2017): If you work in social policy, education, or law, this report is the blueprint for "relationship-based" reform. It’s dry, but it’s essential.
- Watch the Family Hubs Network: This is his "baby." If you’re a local leader or involved in community building, see how these hubs are being implemented to support early childhood development and parental stability.
- Study the Red Kite History: For those in finance, the rise and pivot of Red Kite—moving from aggressive trading to more stable mine finance—is a lesson in adapting to a market dominated by algorithms.
- Evaluate "Social Justice" Conservatism: Look at the reports from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), which Farmer has long supported. It offers a different perspective on welfare and poverty that isn't just about cutting budgets, but about "strengthening the family unit."
Michael Farmer isn't done. Whether he's in the office at Red Kite or on the benches in the House of Lords, he’s still pushing the idea that a "good society" starts with the smallest unit: the family. For a man who made his fortune in the cold, hard world of copper, that’s a pretty warm legacy.