Real patriots would seek to reject meddling Musk, says Blunkett
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True patriots would “want to see off” multi-billionaires seeking to interfere in British democracy, former home secretary David Blunkett has said in a pointed swipe at tech tycoon Elon Musk and Reform UK. The Labour peer made his remarks at Westminster as he pressed the Government over moves to crack down on foreign donations to political parties.
The intervention by the Labour former Cabinet minister follows reports Mr Musk had considered donating up to 100 million dollars (£79 million) to Reform UK, although relations with the party’s leader Nigel Farage subsequently soured. The fallout came after Mr Musk, the owner of Tesla and the social media site X, expressed strong support for the jailed political activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
However, Mr Farage has insisted he could repair relations with the incoming adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump. Mr Musk has launched a string of attacks on Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Government, especially over grooming gangs. Responding to a question in Parliament by Lord Blunkett on barring overseas funding of political parties, communities minister Baroness Taylor of Stevenage pointed out the Government had committed to “protect democracy” by strengthening the rules around donations.
She said: “Foreign money has no place in our elections and the rules already provide clear safeguards against foreign interference. “We are considering changes that will help further protect our system from such risks and we are engaging with the Electoral Commission as we do so.”.
