Elon Musk’s charity talk with Reform UK raises questions over rules

The world’s political disruptor-in-chief, Elon Musk, meets the UK’s political disruptor-in-chief, Nigel Farage.

They’re making news, core blimey, take a look at this picture.

But they are much more than that, as they are the clearest evidence yet of the world’s richest man’s desire to get involved in British politics – to meddle, as some see it.

There’s another way to describe the photos of three people at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s pad in Florida: two billionaires and Nigel Farage.

When Faraz met another rich man, a very rich man was also with him.

Nick Candy is the new Treasurer of Reform UK. A billionaire property developer who donated to the Conservatives and who, coincidentally, is married to former pop star Holly Valance.

But Candy is a pauper compared to Musk, the serial entrepreneurship disruptor in business with his rockets, electric cars and social media platforms who is now doing the same in politics.

Nigel Farage is a master of political storytelling full of intrigue that keeps people interested.

This time it was all about attention-grabbing imagery and teasing but no direct answers about charity at all.

The money was discussed, we weren’t told how much, we didn’t know for sure if it would ever happen and if it did what amount it would be, but the next chapter remained behind – the inauguration of Donald Trump next month, which Faraz will participate

The leader of Reform UK, now back from Florida, told me Musk could give his party $100m (£78m), which was too much.

But a number much smaller than that could still be very large, and game-changing for the prospects for improvement.

The question is whether it would be legal – and whether it would be considered legitimate.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Elections says it will not do so and wants the law changed.

Downing Street says the government is committed to strengthening the rules that currently allow donations from UK registered companies.

Downing Street says the government is committed to strengthening the rules that currently allow donations from UK registered companies.

The danger for the government is that any change in the law may look like self-interest and changing the rules of the game mid-stream.

But never before have we seen someone so rich, with such a big megaphone, so excited to step onto the political stage – both abroad and domestically.

This raises deeper questions about how much impact and where, with far too much impact being measured.

And here’s a thought experiment for you: Do you have your own instincts about how you answer questions that are primarily about what you think about Nigel Farage and Elon Musk, or what about the principle of overseas charity? think?

Former Conservative minister Miriam Cates wrote on Twitter: “Now imagine…a picture of Bill Gates with Keir Starmer, pledging support for the Labor Party. You are either in favor of foreign interference in British politics It may not just depend on whether you agree with or like the individual billionaire in question.”

Nigel Farage will be back across the Atlantic in a few weeks to celebrate Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

On this latest visit he also took a photo with US Vice President-elect JD Vance.

The Reform UK leader has friends in high places and his friends with deep pockets.

It’s no wonder he is making Labour, the Conservatives and others worried about the political threat they fear he poses to them.