Musk ‘critically’ contemplating donating to Reform UK, says Farage

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Nigel Farage stated Tuesday that Elon Musk was “critically contemplating” donating to his British Reform Occasion, which is searching for to strengthen ties with President-elect Donald Trump.

Farage had an hour-long assembly with tech billionaire and new Reform UK treasurer Nick Sweet at Trump’s residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Monday, the occasion stated in a press release.

“The cash was mentioned. We’re in negotiations to see if he will help,” Farage stated. “He’s sufficiently motivated by what is going on in Britain to significantly take into account giving cash.”

Musk is ready to co-lead a brand new Division of Authorities Effectiveness and seems to have turn into deeply concerned in Trump’s transition staff, holding conferences with world leaders.

Former minister Peter Mandelson, within the operating to turn into the following ambassador to the US, has already urged the UK to make use of Farage to strengthen ties with Musk, amid the billionaire’s criticism of Sir Keir’s authorities Starmer and the X’s issues. The boss might undermine official diplomatic channels between the 2 nations.

Musk, who additionally runs Tesla and SpaceX, denied a report earlier this month that he was set to make a $100 million donation to Farage’s occasion, though the assembly befell after Sweet promised to spice up the group’s fundraising operations.

Farage is making an attempt to show his political start-up – which gained 5 seats in July’s normal election – into a reputable energy automobile by mounting a on-the-ground marketing campaign in areas the place the occasion already enjoys vital help.

These embody components of the north and east of England, in addition to Wales. The occasion got here second with 98 seats within the UK election, 89 of which had been gained by Labor.

The occasion now has greater than 100,000 members, however mobilizing extra money from donors shall be essential to spice up its electoral possibilities.

“Now we have realized loads about Trump’s floor recreation and may have continued discussions on different areas,” Farage and Sweet stated in a joint assertion. “We solely have one likelihood left to avoid wasting the West and we are able to do nice issues collectively.”

Sweet, a former Tory donor, introduced final week that he was becoming a member of the occasion as treasurer and pledged to present a minimum of £1m of his personal cash to the Reform Occasion and lift “dozens of tens of millions” extra.

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Farage hopes the Reform Occasion will make vital progress in Might’s native elections, when he believes it will likely be capable of win a number of hundred council seats and a minimum of one mayoralty.

The occasion has been buoyed in latest weeks by a number of high-profile defections from the Conservative Occasion, together with former Conservative MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns, who will stand to turn into Mayor of Higher Lincolnshire; Tim Montgomerie, founding father of the Conservative Residence web site; and Rael Braverman, the husband of former Residence Secretary and sitting Conservative MP Suella Braverman.

Farage first met Musk in October when he was launched by Trump and advised the Monetary Occasions he was impressed by the Tesla chief’s “unimaginable information” concerning the UK, “even about farmers and inheritance tax.

Elon Musk has been contacted for remark.