Nick Candy, the property developer [and Reform UK treasurer], said it was not just Elon Musk who was prepared to donate to the party.
He claimed the windfall would see Reform overtaking the Conservatives, as he promised a “political disruption like we have never seen before”.
Candy, 51, brokered a meeting with Musk at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida earlier this month, after which Nigel Farage, the party leader, claimed that the owner of Tesla was giving a large donation to Reform “serious thought”.
[…]
Labour is considering changing the law to block foreign billionaires donating to political parties. Under current rules, all donations above £500 must come from British-based businesses or individuals. Lucy Powell, the leader of the Commons, said there were “no immediate plans” to change the law. But she told Sky News that the party was “committed to bringing forward some changes to the way in which elections are run in this country”.Candy, who has promised to give £1 million of his own money to Reform, told the Financial Times: “We have a number of billionaires prepared to donate to the party, not just Elon. The Reform Party is the disrupter — this is the seed round, the series A. This will be political disruption like we have never seen before.” He added: “The oldest political party in the world will be overtaken by the youngest political party on the planet.”
Several high-profile Conservatives have defected to Reform in recent weeks, including Tim Montgomerie, the founder of the ConservativeHome website, and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the former Tory MP.
Candy, who is married to the Australian pop star Holly Valance, said a number of Conservative donors could also switch their allegiances and said Musk would “be the first of many wealthy donors legally allowed to donate”.
“Even the big Tory donors are calling me … A lot of people will join us. The movement has started,” he said.
Brexit was a very close one, and a lot of people who voted leave understand now it was all a lie, wished they had voted differently, and should be more dubious of Farage.
I have concerns young voters who are heavily influenced by social media and weren’t overly aware of the Brexit vote 8 years ago will be enticed to vote for Reform. They have seen what a shambles Tories were, and are exposed to the negatives of what Labour are up to, regardless of if they have done some good. They may wish to vote reform because it is perceived as change.
Some Brexiteers I know think it was badly implemented and blame Cameron somehow. They can’t answer how come no Tory since could do it either. Others just get shitty and defensive.
Definitely a worry. I was talking to 19 year-old lad before the next election and he was voting for the first time and said he’d vote Reform. He also muttered about how Andrew Tate was being fitted up. The concern is the widening gender gap in young voters and that seems to be driven by social media.
Some do. But a larger number blame both parliment for being to weak. And remainers for not getting behind the gov in negotiations.
Many fail to recognise the vote was won by joining multiple impossible opposing ideas into one side.