Bring it on Elon!

I agree, Lovetopaint037. I think donations like this should be blocked.

Are you one of Farage’s constituents? Lovetopaint037. I am still waiting to hear back from my Labour mp. By now I can hardly remember why I wrote! Farage may well have a good back office working for him.

It comes all the more relevant to ask "what are Reform policies" if people are dissatisfied with Labour and Conservative.

Promising real alternatives are ultimately meaningless if we don't know what those policies are.

Jack Maidment
Politics Live Blog Editor
18 December 2024 9:27am GMT
“Elon Musk is considering making a sizeable donation to Reform UK because he wants the UK to avoid an economic “catastrophe” under Labour, Richard Tice has suggested.

The deputy leader of Reform said that Mr Musk “wants Britain to do well” and he recognises the UK economy “is in a terrible state”.

Mr Tice made the comments after it was revealed that the tech billionaire had opened discussions with Nigel Farage about a possible donation.

Mr Farage held talks with Mr Musk at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s Florida resort, this week and “the issue of money was discussed”.

There has been speculation that he could donate as much as $100 million (£78.8 million).

Mr Tice said that he did not know if Mr Musk would make a donation but welcomed his “very strong support” for Reform.“

“Foreign donations are not allowed in UK politics, but donations can be made through a “UK-registered company which is incorporated in the UK and carries on business in the UK”, according to Electoral Commission rules.

There has been speculation that a donation could therefore be made through the UK branch of X, Mr Musk’s social media company.”

Sir John Curtice is about to be proved right. We are seeing a once in a hundred years seismic shift in our politics.

Me? I would rather have donations from someone in another country who loves Britain, than from someone in Britain whose loyalties lie elsewhere.

"We are seeing a once in a hundred years seismic shift in our politics."

Towards what? In what ways? with what policies?

GrannyGravy13

Sago

I find it very interesting how the very left leaning threads were always accepted yet FGT is being slammed for her policitics.

Yep 👏👏👏

Well, I have to say that I find it impossible to defend the Labour Party at the moment with their incredibly stupid economic policy and their complete lack of political nous.

But I clearly would never support Reform or the tories because they are equally bad, or worse...

So you think the LibDems? Or the Greens? MaizieD

I'll see how the Greens develop, ronib.

The Greens will never develop into a full party in our lifetime…. So where does that leave us?

This is what Farage actually said and, in my interpretation means little. Vague sort of promises; social chit-chat maybe? Every day I give some thought to something and dismiss it the next.

He said: “Money was discussed. We are in negotiations about whether he can help. He is fully behind this. He is motivated enough by what’s going on in Britain to give serious thought to giving money.

Wyllow3

I'm just asking what the politics/policies actually are.

Well, we were told what labours policies were weren’t we
and look how that has ended up,a complete car crash. so many lies to get into government and then reneging on so many policies.
Reform have plenty of time to put their policies together..

Shinamae

Wyllow3

I'm just asking what the politics/policies actually are.

Well, we were told what labours policies were weren’t we
and look how that has ended up,a complete car crash. so many lies to get into government and then reneging on so many policies.
Reform have plenty of time to put their policies together..

Exactly. I can't understand why some on here continually defend Labour. They have lied and done so much damage in such a short space of time and the rate of inflation continues to rise!

Reform supporters can only take it on trust that Musk has developed a love for Britain. Why would he? Reform must be trading something important in return for his donation to make it worth his while. Musk is a business man after all so what is the deal they are considering?

Labour supporters presumably also took it on trust Parsley3? Looks like trust is an outdated concept. Bound to be disappointed.

I am at the stage in life where if a politician’s lips are moving, they’re lying

Will this change for me? I have no idea, but it will take a strong truthful politician/party leader with truthful and dedicated people behind them to make me think differently.

Cannot see anyone of that calibre in U.K. politics at the moment.

Hmm - what does one of the world's richest men buy himself for Christmas?
Let me think...oh, a country..

Chocolatelovinggran

Hmm - what does one of the world's richest men buy himself for Christmas?
Let me think...oh, a country..

For a start, at least, little old Britain - start small.

Promises of seismic change and Musk potentially handing over 78 million pounds doesnt just mean fiddling around with current political directions. It indicates fundamental policy changes.

They are talking about rebuilding a new political movement

and it's no good just talking about walking into sunnier uplands

yet being evasive on even the broad brush principles on which this is based.

Until we know what it involves - for us, for others - home and foreign policy, we simply cant discuss pros and cons.

Farage hasn't spent 5 or was it 6 visits to Musk just talking about how much will you give us.

It had to involve give us for what and the directions Reform backed by foreign agency intend to propose. Reform have talked about "building a movement" - you cant do that on rhetoric that has no policy flesh and bones.

But why would anyone want to buy this country? Musk is the world’s richest man - why for one minute would he throw his money away in our direction? We haven’t got the best economy so isn’t this debate all pointless media spin to undermine Farage?

Delila

Chocolatelovinggran

Hmm - what does one of the world's richest men buy himself for Christmas?
Let me think...oh, a country..

For a start, at least, little old Britain - start small.

🤣 ha! That did make me laugh - thank you!

ronib

But why would anyone want to buy this country? Musk is the world’s richest man - why for one minute would he throw his money away in our direction? We haven’t got the best economy so isn’t this debate all pointless media spin to undermine Farage?

I think it will be interesting to see what happens in the US. Trump and Musk between them have completely bonkers ideas about how to run a national economy.

According to economist , Stephanie Kelton, a great deal of what they want to do to 'reduce the debt, will require the approval of Congress. We don't know how Congress is going to jump, even if it does have a Republican majority. Some of them could still be quite sensible...

There's also a strong possibility that the US stock market is heading for something of a crash. It's running very hot at the moment with shares overvalued. It would only take investors starting to sell off their shares, hoping to make massive profits at the top of the market, to start a slide in share values as too many come onto the market to be sold...

The obscenely rich in the USA seem to want to cause chaos by buying their way into political decision making. An "I've paid, now you do what I want" attitude.
It won't matter what happens to the ordinary Americans because whatever goes wrong, the billionaires and millionaires won't be affected very much.

Here Farage, Tice and Candy (who apparently contributed to both Labour and Conservatives) are millionaires too. They have the same attitude. Unfortunately, in both countries, the seemingly brainwashed hail the far right as the being able to save their country from the ills that any opposition party will bring. Delusion anyone?

Farage is only interested in money and power. Being aligned to Musk etc gives him the boost his ego needs. Quite pathetic really.

ronib

But why would anyone want to buy this country? Musk is the world’s richest man - why for one minute would he throw his money away in our direction? We haven’t got the best economy so isn’t this debate all pointless media spin to undermine Farage?

1. A foothold in Europe that is USA aligned not looking like becoming more Europe aligned.

2. Open door policy for US investment in such areas as health.

3. Imposing US standards on goods and services so we become attached economically.

4. Not having an independent foreign policy generally but returning to being the tail that the dog wags.