Labour may use new legal guidelines to ban Elon Musk from bankrolling Reform | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour ministers may use new legal guidelines to dam Elon Musk from donating hundreds of thousands to Reform UK.

Nigel Farage stated “the issue of money was discussed” when he held talks with billionaire Mr Musk on the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida final week.

But Labour’s Lucy Powell hs hinted proposed reforms to political donations may stop Mr Musk from donating as much as £78million.

Asked whether or not the Government may stop the Tesla and X chief from donating to Reform, Ms Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, informed Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We’ve no immediate plans to do that, but we do have a manifesto commitment to look more broadly at our elections regime in this country, from things like votes at 16, which we’re committed to, but also to make sure that our electoral system has got that integrity and is robust from many of the new issues that face undermining our democracy and our elections.

“But simply to be clear that international donations to UK-based political events is prohibited beneath present regulation, in order that’s one thing that already exists.”

Labour’s election manifesto committed to strengthening the rules around donations to political parties.

Foreign donations are not allowed in UK politics, but contributions from a “UK-registered firm” can be accepted.

But Mr Musk’s biggest firm, Tesla, is registered in the UK, potentially paving the way for a huge donation to be made.

Pressed on whether the Government could take action during this parliamentary term, Ms Powell suggested the clampdown could feature in an Elections Bill planned for the next parliamentary session, which starts in July.

She said: “We are dedicated to bringing ahead some adjustments to the way in which by which elections are run on this nation.

“There will be an Elections Bill probably in the next parliamentary session, but obviously we’ve not made those decisions yet because we are committed to things like votes at 16, which is in our manifesto.

“And our manifesto additionally stated that we might take a look at different points to be sure that our elections on this nation are truthful, are strong, are free from lots of the points which are undermining our democracy in the mean time, like mis- and disinformation, international state actors and so forth, and ensuring that the problems round donations are additionally truthful and strong as nicely.”