Could $100m of Elon Musk’s money sway a general election for Reform UK?
Share:
Spending such a seemingly game-changing sum would face several hurdles and could even hinder the party’s chances. Over the 2024 general election period, combined donations to every UK party totalled about £50m. If reports are to be believed, Elon Musk could be about to give considerably more to just one – Reform UK. Is this a political game-changer? As ever with politics and money, there is no one answer.
One caveat must be mentioned: not only is the prospect of the world’s richest person helping out Nigel Farage’s party still very much at the ideas stage, but the mooted figure of $100m (£80m) is disputed, with the Reform leader describing it as “for the birds”.
That said, and with a final qualification that under electoral law, the donation would need to be channelled through a UK-based subsidiary, Musk does have a clear track record in shifting the political dial using his riches, spending an estimated $250m-plus helping Donald Trump get re-elected.
What would £80m buy? In part it depends on the context. Unlike the no-financial-holds-barred world of US presidential politics, UK parties are limited to spending just over £54,000 per constituency in the 12 months before a general election. Multiplied by 632 Commons seats, excluding those in Northern Ireland, and it totals about £34m, less than half Musk’s supposed largesse.
However, winning elections is about more than just the buildup. Richard Tice, Farage’s deputy, has raised the idea of using a windfall to try to fill the electoral roll with younger and hopefully Reform-minded voters, an echo of Musk’s stunt of giving away $1m in a daily lottery to Republicans who registered to vote.
