Ben Habib has left Reform Party Ltd.

I’d be interested to hear what Reform supporters think of this.

Elon Musk bankrolled Donald Trump's campaign, and has been lined up for a job in his administration
BRANDON BELL/REUTERS

admires Farage and wants him to succeed.”
Another well-connected Tory grandee said he had “heard the rumours Musk wanted to support Reform”.
It is understood that Badenoch and her team are aware of the rumours.

give Farage $100m to make him PM?
The Tesla boss, who used his immense fortune to help Donald Trump's campaign, is turning his attention to Britain

William Turvill, Chief Business Correspondent | Tim Shipman | Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor
Labour and Tory supporters will hope this is fake news.
Elon Musk has already declared war on Sir Keir Starmer and last week suggested that Nigel Farage's Reform party would form the next government.
The Tesla tycoon, who is the world's richest man, could be about to put his money where his mouth is.
This weekend, leading businessmen and Conservative Party officials believe there is a credible prospect that Musk is preparing to give $100 million (£78 million) to Farage as a “f* you Starmer payment” with a view to transforming
Nigel Farage announced a milestone for his party's membership figures last week, and could also win vital backing from the world's richest man
THOMAS KRYCH/ZUMA PRESS WIRE/ALAMY

British politics.
Such a move could obliterate the Conservative Party as the main challenger to Labour before Kemi Badenoch, the new leader of the opposition, has made her mark.
It would also open the door to near-limitless anti-government ad-
vertisements from Reform.
If the donation materialises, it is likely to be made through the British branch of Musk's social media company X, formally known as Twitter, which would enable him to get round rules preventing foreign donations to a political party, ac-
cording to those familiar with the discussions.
On Saturday evening, Farage said he did not know whether Musk would give any money but said he was in regular touch with the billionaire, who has been appointed by Donald Trump to lead efforts to pare back the US government.
“All I can say is that I'm in touch with him and he is very supportive of my policy positions,” Farage said. “We both share a friendship with Donald Trump and Trump has said good things about me in front of Musk. We've got a good relationship with him.”
On Thursday a right-wing account on X posted the news that Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a minister in Boris Johnson's government who lost her seat in the Labour landslide, had defected to Reform and will be a candidate in a mayoral election next year. The tweet added: “Reform will win the next general election.”
Musk reposted the remark to his 206 million followers with the word: “Yes”. It was liked 159,000 times.
An ally of Farage said he would “not be surprised” if such a donation were made under the banner of “freedom of speech”, adding: “Elon

Wyllow3

Galaxy

Where is the evidence for that though.
How is this suggestion any different to misinformation.
I have no idea if it is true or not but the source seems to be 'suggestions online'

"Elon Musk tipped to give $100m to Nigel Farage in move to shake up British politics"

uk.news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-tipped-100m-nigel-101301072.html

"Elon Musk is reportedly planning to donate $100 million to Nigel Farage in a bid to shake up British politics ahead of the next election.

The Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) boss, who has openly supported Donald Trump in recent months and spoke at a Republican rally, is said to be considering backing the far-right Reform UK party.

Acording to the Times, Musk’s goal could be to help Farage become prime minister.

The billionaire may be able to sidestep overseas donation laws by funneling the £78 million through the UK branch of X, which he owns.

Mr Farage told the Times: “All I can say is that I’m in touch with him and he is very supportive of my policy positions.

“We both share a friendship with Donald Trump and Trump has said good things about me in front of Musk. We’ve got a good relationship with him.”

Thanks. I was just looking for that as my partner read it earlier today. For some reason I sometimes don’t get the same articles that he does.

Wyllow3

Whereas in my area it took away "traditional Labour" votes. I don't think its any kind of "plot"!

It's not to "Even out" selective party political groups of voters but to re-balance how many voters in each constituency (with some allowance for huge rural areas).

The last boundary review took place in 2023 therefore affecting the 2024 elections.

The change that would work for smaller parties is Proportional Representation.

Yes I know that, and where did I say it was a plot.
3000 more in one area than in another similar size. That seems cockeyed to me. What do I know!!

Freya5

valdavi

That may be £100 million straight down the drain for Elon Musk. In GB main thing it can do is promote the party on the media & Reform didn't under-perform in the GE for any lack of coverage. They stood 609 MP's for their 5 MPs last time, haven't checked but assuming they don't contest NI seats that's pretty much most constituencies.
The money might double the number of MPs but 10 MPs won't 'shake up British politics'.

Only the way our ridiculous electoral system works. Reform got more votes than the Lib Dems, half a million more in fact. The gap between the vote share and seats was the most disproportionate on record. House of Commons Library.
Time for change to make it fairer. I see the new boundary lines in our area, give a traditional Labour area 3,000 more voters.
I thought it was meant to even out the voting numbers.

This has been affecting the Greens for years.

flump

Cossy Farage has a conscience ??

Doubtful!!

Whereas in my area it took away "traditional Labour" votes. I don't think its any kind of "plot"!

It's not to "Even out" selective party political groups of voters but to re-balance how many voters in each constituency (with some allowance for huge rural areas).

The last boundary review took place in 2023 therefore affecting the 2024 elections.

The change that would work for smaller parties is Proportional Representation.

valdavi

That may be £100 million straight down the drain for Elon Musk. In GB main thing it can do is promote the party on the media & Reform didn't under-perform in the GE for any lack of coverage. They stood 609 MP's for their 5 MPs last time, haven't checked but assuming they don't contest NI seats that's pretty much most constituencies.
The money might double the number of MPs but 10 MPs won't 'shake up British politics'.

Only the way our ridiculous electoral system works. Reform got more votes than the Lib Dems, half a million more in fact. The gap between the vote share and seats was the most disproportionate on record. House of Commons Library.
Time for change to make it fairer. I see the new boundary lines in our area, give a traditional Labour area 3,000 more voters.
I thought it was meant to even out the voting numbers.

Cossy Farage has a conscience ??

Wyllow3

I do think it's time to control MP's being paid by news broadcasters. MP's should be interviewed by the press not control the stream of information.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

foxie48

FGT I do have a problem with a foreign national funding any British political party as it would be illegal, however, there are loopholes which I hope get closed. How would you feel about Putin giving the same amount of money to a political party, obviously it's a theoretical question but would you be OK with that?

I would have a huge issue with both Putin and Musk donating to ANY UK political party and so should any sane person

Perhaps its easier to give money to a PLC than registered political party.

FGT I do have a problem with a foreign national funding any British political party as it would be illegal, however, there are loopholes which I hope get closed. How would you feel about Putin giving the same amount of money to a political party, obviously it's a theoretical question but would you be OK with that?

I do think it's time to control MP's being paid by news broadcasters. MP's should be interviewed by the press not control the stream of information.

609 candidates

That may be £100 million straight down the drain for Elon Musk. In GB main thing it can do is promote the party on the media & Reform didn't under-perform in the GE for any lack of coverage. They stood 609 MP's for their 5 MPs last time, haven't checked but assuming they don't contest NI seats that's pretty much most constituencies.
The money might double the number of MPs but 10 MPs won't 'shake up British politics'.

I believe there have been recent proposals to control MPs being paid by news broadcasters. Quite right too.

My opinion of Farage is no secret, the way Habib has been treated does not surprise me.

As for Musk, he terrifies me.

Galaxy

Where is the evidence for that though.
How is this suggestion any different to misinformation.
I have no idea if it is true or not but the source seems to be 'suggestions online'

"Elon Musk tipped to give $100m to Nigel Farage in move to shake up British politics"

uk.news.yahoo.com/elon-musk-tipped-100m-nigel-101301072.html

"Elon Musk is reportedly planning to donate $100 million to Nigel Farage in a bid to shake up British politics ahead of the next election.

The Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) boss, who has openly supported Donald Trump in recent months and spoke at a Republican rally, is said to be considering backing the far-right Reform UK party.

Acording to the Times, Musk’s goal could be to help Farage become prime minister.

The billionaire may be able to sidestep overseas donation laws by funneling the £78 million through the UK branch of X, which he owns.

Mr Farage told the Times: “All I can say is that I’m in touch with him and he is very supportive of my policy positions.

“We both share a friendship with Donald Trump and Trump has said good things about me in front of Musk. We’ve got a good relationship with him.”

Not sure Farage has the character structure to build a party root and branch up, be subject to (and defend) decisions you sometimes don't agree with.
His style has been in the past a one man band with temporary alliances for the purposes of say Brexit, and this time its migration. But ReformUK is weak on policy in all other areas?

Wyllow3

And we have the extraordinary and to me bizarre situation where the leader in parliament of ReformUK is paid for regular TV appearances to put his POV - imagine it being "OK" for Starmer or Badenoch to be paid to broadcast in this way?

Paid to present GB News AND speak at dubious conferences. He earns more than he does as an MP and I don’t think any MP should be able to undertake paid work such as this.

He’s rarely in Tendering (his constituency) and goodness only knows how he squares this with his conscience.

Any serving MP, irrespective of party politics, should put their constituency first.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Ah, I understand now Wyllow. Apologies ronib.
I agree it’s time to change the format.

Yes, that would be the proper thing to do.

And we have the extraordinary and to me bizarre situation where the leader in parliament of ReformUK is paid for regular TV appearances to put his POV - imagine it being "OK" for Starmer or Badenoch to be paid to broadcast in this way?

Ah, I understand now Wyllow. Apologies ronib.
I agree it’s time to change the format.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

ronib

Does Farage have a God complex?

No.
He explained to Habib that Reform needed a Deputy as an MP in the HoC, hence Tice was selected.

That wasn't unreasonable in and of itself, I agree, but it is clear there were some fundamental differences as towards staying a PLC as opposed to building a proper political party and it does seem that Farage was out to sideline Habib from the outset.