Exclusive

Labour plans to ‘tighten up’ donation rules, minister says, amid concerns Elon Musk could donate £80m to Reform

4 December 2024, 18:53

Labour could look to "tighten up" rules on political donations.
Labour could look to "tighten up" rules on political donations. Picture: Alamy

By Henry Moore

Labour could change political donation rules after reports emerged Elon Musk may donate up to £100m to Reform UK at the next General Election.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speaking to LBC’s Andrew Marr, Minister for European Union Relations, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government had already planned to “tighten up” donation rules before Mr Musk reportedly backed Reform UK.

Mr Musk, the world's richest man, has been critical of Keir Starmer's government and has shown support for Reform.

He has also become a key ally of Donald Trump, donating over $200m to his election campaign.

Speaking to LBC, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “We’ve already said we are looking at tightening up the rules on donations, that’s not a new thing.

Elon Musk's potential $100m donation to Reform 'could be a serious problem'

“There is already a set of rules on foreign donations but we do need to toughen up these rules to maintain and enhance trust in politics.”

Any donation from Musk to Reform would likely be made through X in a bid to get around political donation laws by foreign individuals.

Mr Farage said he was unaware of any plans by Mr Musk to donate to Reform, but said they shared "a good relationship".

“All I can say is that I’m in touch with him and he is very supportive of my policy positions,” the Reform leader told The Times.

“We both share a friendship with Donald Trump and Trump has said good things about me in front of Musk.

"We’ve got a good relationship with him.”

President-elect Donald Trump arrives to watch SpaceX's mega rocket Starship lift off for a test flight with Elon Musk
President-elect Donald Trump arrives to watch SpaceX's mega rocket Starship lift off for a test flight with Elon Musk. Picture: Alamy

Mr Musk recently reposted a message on social media that Reform would "win the next election", saying simply "Yes".

He has also sparred with Keir Starmer, branding him 'two-tier Keir', a popular right-wing online insult for the Prime Minister.

Mr Thomas-Symonds also told LBC that Labour will not be forced to choose between the European Union and Donald Trump in the coming years.

He said: “We are influenced by our national interest and that is what guides us, both with the EU and the United States and other trading partners.

“We want there to be more trade, deeper trade.

“The United States has been able to combine being both pro-worker and pro-business, and that’s the platform that won us the election here.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, with a photo of herself as a teen, when she says she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew, among others.

'Fierce warrior' Virginia Giuffre, survivor of Jeffrey Epstein abuse and Prince Andrew accuser, dies by suicide aged 41

The demonstration made its way to popular tourist spot, Weyler Square

'Without fear there is no change': furious protesters to target holidaying Brits at airports and hotspots in these countries

Ioan Gruffudd and Bianca Wallace have tied the knot

Titanic and Marvel star Ioan Gruffudd marries partner Bianca Wallace in intimate ceremony

Mummy Pig revealed the gender of her baby.

Mummy Pig's having a...! Peppa Pig's mother announces new piglet's gender at iconic London spot

CBB announced its winner

Celebrity Big Brother announces winner of latest series

Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch's company accused of 'actively undermining' Met's phone-hacking investigation

Paul Butler, who killed his estranged wife in a 'frenzied' and 'brutal' attack, has been served a minimum term of 27 years for the murder of Plymouth university lecturer Claire Chick.

'Evil' man who killed Plymouth university lecturer in 'brutal' jealousy-fuelled attack jailed for 27 years

Visitors and mourners pay their respects to the body of Pope Francis

How Pope Francis's funeral will unfold

Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing for the murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson at Manhattan Criminal Court on February 21, 2025 in New York City.

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to federal murder charge over CEO killing as US pushes for death penalty

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on Air Force One at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International airport

World leaders arrive for Pope’s funeral as 150,000 mourners pay respects

Moscow says Vladimir Putin has had 'constructive' talks with Donald Trump's envoy at the Kremlin.

Trump envoy holds ‘constructive’ talks with Putin hours after top Russian general killed in Moscow car bomb

Displaced Palestinians crowd with outstretched hands and containers to receive hot meals distributed by aid organizations at the Jabalia Refugee Camp in northern Gaza City, Gaza on April 24, 2025.

UN runs out of food aid in Gaza as Israel continues total blockade, ending 'critical lifeline' for hundreds of thousands

Christina Howell was handed a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, after previously admitting manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility

Woman killed man in unprovoked racist attack after asking to be sent back to hospital

A huge mountain of rubbish bags and other waste block rows of terraced housing on Primrose Avenue in the Sparkbrook area of Birmingham as refuse workers continue to strike, 15th April, 2025.

Warning issued as Birmingham resident had to be given oxygen after burning recycling inside home amid bin strike

Laurence Fox arrived at court wearing grey jeans, a light blue shirt and a black cap

Laurence Fox pleads not guilty to sharing upskirting photo of TV star Narinder Kaur

Forensic investigators at Milton Keynes train station after a man was shot dead by armed police officers.

Man shot dead by police at point-blank range ‘called 999 himself’, watchdog reveals