Senior Tory urges Elon Musk not to back Reform UK

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Conservative shadow minister Andrew Griffith has urged Elon Musk to take another look at the Tories before donating to Reform UK, highlighting his party’s low-tax and anti-woke credentials. 

The tech billionaire discussed the idea of a donation to Reform UK during a meeting at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Monday with the party’s leader Nigel Farage and its new treasurer Nick Candy, according to Farage.

The prospect of a large donation from the world’s richest man to Farage’s populist right-wing party has sparked alarm within the Conservatives, who fear being outflanked by Reform UK at the next general election.

It also comes as Britain’s elections watchdog makes the case for changes to UK law to protect the electoral system from foreign interference.

Griffith described Musk as a “formidably talented businessman” with interests in the UK, who was concerned about issues such as freedom of speech, or what he called the “woke mind virus”.  

“I would say to [Musk] or to Nick, look at what the Conservative party is doing,” Griffith told the Financial Times in an interview on Wednesday.

He argued the Tories were the best vehicle for opposition to Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government.

“If you’re actually serious about providing opposition to this very socialist government, which many people do think is a threat to freedom of speech, actually, you know, have a proper look at the full menu before jumping into any one particular course,” Griffith said.

The shadow business secretary emphasised his role when he was City of London minister last year in helping people, including Farage, who said they had been denied bank accounts because of their political views.

He also pointed to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s criticisms of the now closed NHS Tavistock clinic for child gender identity in London.

The prospect of Musk backing Reform UK came into focus this week as he, Farage and former Tory donor and property tycoon Candy were photographed together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.

Farage posted the photo on Musk’s X platform on Tuesday with the comment: “Britain Needs Reform.” Musk responded: “Absolutely.”

Griffith declined to comment on whether he actively wanted Musk, a prominent ally of Trump, to instead donate to the Conservative party, saying that was not part of his role.

But the shadow business secretary said he had been talking to senior figures in the incoming Trump administration and shared their views on seeking to spend taxpayers’ money more wisely.

“I’m not pretending I was running down to Mar-a-Lago and tweeting about it, but I spent a week in Washington talking to people in and around the potential administration and what is going to happen on government efficiency,” Griffith added.

Also on Wednesday, a spokesman for Badenoch said the Tory leader was “an enormous fan of Elon Musk and what’s he done with X”.

Badenoch supported the principle of a British version of “Doge”, Trump’s planned Department of Government Efficiency that will be co-led by Musk, her spokesman added. The advisory unit is aimed at slashing bureaucracy.

Badenoch “believes there has been overregulation and too often our first answer has been more government” in Britain, her spokesman said.

He did not put a figure on the amount of expenditure Badenoch would cut under a UK efficiency programme, but said: “There is fat to trim.”

Musk is expected to have the ability to make a donation to Reform UK or another British political party, according to experts.

This is because, while UK law bans foreigners from making donations directly to British political parties, the rules allow donations to be made by companies so long as they are registered and incorporated in the UK, and carry on business in the country. Musk has UK business interests, such as the British arm of X.

The Electoral Commission said on Wednesday it was in talks with the government about changing the law on donations made by British companies to ensure that only profits made in the UK could be donated to parties. However, Downing Street signalled that no reform was imminent.

Meanwhile, Downing Street declined to comment on Musk’s vocal opposition to Starmer.

The prime minister’s spokesman said Starmer “has been very clear that we look forward to working with President Trump and his whole administration”.