Is Elon Musk about to disrupt British politics?
Mar-a-Lago talks between billionaire and Nigel Farage prompt calls for change on how political parties are funded

Reform UK published "news-making, cor blimey, take-a-look-at-this photos" of a meeting this week between Elon Musk and Nigel Farage at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago mansion, said the BBC's political editor Chris Mason.
But this is about more than just photos: it is "the most clear-cut proof yet of the richest man in the world's desire to get involved in – meddle in, as some see it – British politics".
It has only added to the speculation that Musk, "the world's disruptor-in-chief", intends to donate up to $100 million (£78 million) to the party led by "the UK's political disruptor-in-chief", Farage.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What did the commentators say?
For the boss of X and Tesla, British politics seems to have become a bit of a "side hustle", said Matthew D'Ancona in London's The Standard. Musk has "endorsed Reform in the most theatrical fashion, and clearly intends to subsidise its campaign of nationalist disruption". If the $100 million donation does materialise, it would be the largest ever donation in British political history, and have "transformative consequences for Reform's prospects".
But Reform is hardly a well-oiled machine. Even if such a donation is made, it's not clear what impact it would have on a party that Farage "concedes is still lacking in organisation and election-winning knowhow", said The Guardian.
Yet, the image of Farage standing beside Musk, who poured $250 million (£200 million) of his fortune into helping Trump win a second term in the White House, sums up the current state of UK politics. This is "the second age of Farage as a domestic tribute act to Trump – one in which, Farage hopes, he also ends up with an election win".
"Pundits are right to be wary of all rich actors, foreign and domestic, meddling in politics," said Freddy Gray in The Spectator.
Still, Reform's rise in the polls isn't just because Musk is behind them: it's because voters are fed up with both Labour and the Conservatives. People are drawn to Farage and others who talk about the "uniparty" running Britain, especially on hot-button issues like immigration. Perhaps what British voters want is "more disruption, not less".
What next?
The Mar-a-Lago talks have "highlighted the urgent need to reform the UK's archaic rules on how political parties are funded", said Andrew Grice on The Independent.
Musk could legally give Reform money through X or Tesla as they are UK-registered, but the Electoral Commission has reportedly urged the government to strengthen the rules around political donations to deter foreign interference. The "Musk-Farage link-up" could therefore be Keir Starmer's "golden opportunity to clean up the dark money flowing into British politics".
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sorcha Bradley is a writer at The Week and a regular on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. She worked at The Week magazine for a year and a half before taking up her current role with the digital team, where she mostly covers UK current affairs and politics. Before joining The Week, Sorcha worked at slow-news start-up Tortoise Media. She has also written for Sky News, The Sunday Times, the London Evening Standard and Grazia magazine, among other publications. She has a master’s in newspaper journalism from City, University of London, where she specialised in political journalism.
-
Labour's brewing welfare rebellion
The Explainer Keir Starmer seems determined to press on with disability benefit cuts despite a "nightmare" revolt by his own MPs
-
A potentially mutating bat virus has some scientists worried about the next pandemic
Under the Radar One subgroup of bat merbecovirus has scientists concerned
-
Crossword: June 24, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
Labour's brewing welfare rebellion
The Explainer Keir Starmer seems determined to press on with disability benefit cuts despite a "nightmare" revolt by his own MPs
-
ICE: Targeting essential workers
Feature After a brief pause, the Trump administration resumes its mass deportation plan
-
'No Kings': A turning point for the resistance?
Feature Millions of Americans nationwide took to the streets to protest against the Trump administration
-
Trump: Making the military into a 'partisan militia'?
Feature Donald Trump held a military parade just days after sending troops to stop protests in Los Angeles
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Is the US sliding into autocracy?
Talking Point Donald Trump's use of federal troops on home ground, dismissal of dissent and 'braggadocious' military posturing are all symptoms of a shifting political culture
-
Court allows National Guard in LA as Dodgers repel feds
Speed Read The team said they 'denied entry' to ICE agents seeking to enter their stadium
-
Are free votes the best way to change British society?
Today's Big Question On 'conscience issues' like abortion and assisted dying, MPs are being left to make the most consequential social decisions without guidance