Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to modify campaign finance rules after tech billionaire Elon Musk expressed an interest in Nigel Farage’s Reform Party. Starmer’s spokesman said the ruling Labour Party government is committed to “strengthening the rules” around foreign nationals funding British political parties to “protect democracy.”
“The Electoral Commission has said voters should have confidence in the integrity of elections. Part of that is around strengthening the rules on donations, and that is why the government has committed to that in the manifesto,” the spokesman said.
Currently, British political parties may only receive donations from British nationals on the electoral register or from companies registered in the United Kingdom. British politics has seen its fair share of foreign money, including large donations from Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros to far-left NGOs and anti-Brexit activist groups—but only now, when Farage may be in line to receive funding rather than establishment parties and causes, is Labour keen to take action.
Farage met with tech billionaire Elon Musk, a critic of Starmer, at President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, December 16. The Brexit leader was joined by British billionaire Nick Candy, who is set to serve as Reform Party’s treasurer in the new year.
“We had a great meeting with Elon Musk for an hour yesterday. We learned a great deal about the Trump ground game and will have ongoing discussions on other areas,” the pair said in a statement following the meeting with Musk.
Prime Minister Starmer has personally accepted multiple donations from wealthy Labour Party businessman Lord Ali, born to migrant parents. The donations include tens of thousands of dollars worth of clothes, eyeglasses, and other items, earning him the nickname “Free Gear Keir.”
Image by Stuart Mitchell.