I rarely comment on Opposition parties, but today given that way important issues about Reform have been prominent in world social media I thought I should let those of you interested pass comment.
Elon Musk is a very talented entrepreneur and a titan of social media. When he speaks the world listens.
His recent attack on Nigel Farage was unexpected after reports of friendly relations between the two. It has revealed a couple of splits in Reform over the constitution of the party and over who should be allowed to join.
Mr Musk sides with those in Reform who think it should change from being a private company where Nigel Farage controls a majority of the voting shares, to being a more normal party where members have votes, can approve budgets and direction and can have a voting say in who leads them . Nigel Farage is promising change to the constitution but others are frustrated with delays.
Rupert Lowe put out a very carefully worded statement that fell short of supporting Nigel as leader. Rupert is the darling of many members and some media for his continuous strong opposition to the government. Maybe Mr Musk has him in mind to replace Nigel.
Mr Musk also seems to think Tommy Robinson should be allowed to join Reform. Nigel Farage strongly disagrees given Robinsonâs past brushes with the law and his views on religion.
Mr Farage may well strengthen his ability to detach more voters from Labour by standing up to Mr Musk over the issue of the Robinson  tendency joining. He will also lose some others who want very strong messaging on religion and migration.
Meanwhile we await a possible big change to the party constitution. Who should be able to change the Leader of Reform, and in what circumstances?
January 7, 2025
âElon Musk is a very talented entrepreneur and a titan of social mediaâ it is indeed very clever of him to get people to buy shares in Tesla at P/E of over 100 especially as more and more people are realising the many issues with EVs. My trading companies would, on this basis, be worth well over ÂŁ100 million when in reality they are perhaps worth only about ÂŁ10m. Probably rather less given the moronic letâs kill all growth Reeves budget, the insanity of the deluded Zealot Ed Miliband energy lunacy and the war again employers, motorists, energy users, small business and property owners.
January 7, 2025
‘Tesla Is Still Wall Streetâs Favorite Car Company’ – Wall Street Journal. ‘Nearly two-thirds of analysts are bullish on Tesla, the highest share since 2014’
Clearly, you’re wrong! It’s impossible to garner this much success and respect from experts by just social media alone! (Plus Tusk has demonstrated he’s useless at social media in how he bought and has run Twitter).
Your argument is essentially flawed.
If you want taxes to dramatically drop here in the UK, then please listen to Conservatives like me who work in Digital Marketing (and in the past, in Branding / Advertising / High Tech). There is a lot I don’t know. People like you know lots more about things I don’t know. And I’m prepared to listen – and change my views. I’ve done this, from one degree to another, with Sir John. But you’re all one-way dialogue. You don’t listen. You don’t argue. You just respond to people who agree with you. This kind of thing is disastrous in politics overall. For lots of reasons. Including politics being reduced to IDEOLOGY.
January 7, 2025
Not saying you do this all the time. But a lot. And it is this approach that helps keep Labour in power / get back into power. And fails to look at politics from a universal POV. But rather from your own perspective (without being challenged / challenged to look at things in a different way).
And ultimately this is NOT about who’s right or wrong. But how we manage to get Tories into power who look at things universally in order to greatly reduce the burden to tax payers (and other good reasons too).
(And not listening to others and not being challenged is like being trapped in an echo chamber)
January 8, 2025
Ed you say âNot about right and wrong. But how we manage to get Tories into power who look at things universally in order to greatly reduce the burden to tax payers (and other good reasons too).â
The Con-Socialist were in power for 14 years and put taxes up hugely combined with massive mishandling of Covid (net harm lockdowns, net harm Covid Vaccines, appalling public services, net zero lunacyâŠ). The Moronic Sunak even through in the towel in 6 month early.
January 8, 2025
Plus they ran an open door low skilled immigration policy to suppress wages, increase crime rates and lower GDP per cap and living standards. Cameron promised net migration figures of under 10K PA we got ten times this figure.
January 8, 2025
âTesla Is Still Wall Streetâs Favorite Car Companyâ â Wall Street Journal. âNearly two-thirds of analysts are bullish on Tesla, the highest share since 2014â
Clearly, youâre wrong!â
Well time will tell. In In March 1981, 364 economists agreed to write to The Times arguing strongly against the Thatcher governmentâs monetary and fiscal policy, later almost everyone was for the ERM and the EURO and later for Covid Lockdowns and the net harm Covid Vaccines, now almost everyone is for the insanity of NET Zero rip off intermittent energy and over regulation, higher taxes & ever bigger government.
We shall see how it all turns out. Trump at least for now is fairly sound on Net Zero and the duff Covid Vaccines.
January 7, 2025
Musk is following the oligarch playbook. He’s bored with making money and now wishes to use it, wielding power through funding and influencing weak politicians. Trump is weak, he’s never had any policies other than to keep out of jail and make himself more wealthy; and so Musk is in his ear whispering new policies. Reform needs money, Musk thought he could manipulate Farage. The AdF needs money to possibly win power in German, and so on.
Interesting times….. and getting more dangerous by the day..
January 8, 2025
+1
January 7, 2025
Pure solipsism as ever.
January 7, 2025
Only 17 million? Obviously not as talented as you claim
January 7, 2025
â When he speaks the world listens.â Money talks.
Like the casino billionaires who want to Make Israel Great Again. They are less outspoken than Musk though. They donât post on X about stuff.
UK politicians are cheaper than American ones. However, Reform will be tainted if they are seen as beholden to rich donors.
January 7, 2025
I guess it depends on whether you see Tesla as a ‘Car Maker’ or an ‘Autonomy’ business LL?
If Mr Buffet took a look at their 10 year discounted cash flow (e.g. intrinsic value) he might think it was currently overvalued by a factor of seven. If Mr Musk is right, then we will see FSD vehicles in the next 2-3 years and the March of the Robots will be underway. This will be disruptive in a very significant way. Never mind declining birth rates, what will we do with all those imported low-paid workers (and some of the native highly paid ones too – like train drivers)?
The other small problem (of a robotic workforce) is that Robots don’t pay taxes (or vote for that matter). “May you live in interesting times” as the Chinese like to say…
January 7, 2025
Indeed. Its reported today that Gilt prices are the highest they’ve been since the financial crisis of 2009 and above Trusses budget. Lets wait to here this in the msm…………………….silence. So Reeves budget is going tits up with our economy on the brink of recession with employer N/I tax rises, minimum wage rises and reducing salary thresholds. Government debt increases. It’s time to legislate to keep Governments within spending limits we can afford. Time for large cuts in welfare in all its forms and who is eligable. Not those that just chip up here at the expense of the 46% etc.
January 7, 2025
Sky ran a piece this evening about 30 year Gilts being at their highest for well over 20 years and stuck a graph up to prove it. They didn’t point out of course that this period included the “disasterous” Truss government that drove everyones mortgage up. I guess something must be different this time…
Speaking of which, one of my sons renewed his 5-year fixed mortgage just before Christmas at 3.8% (which he thinks is really expensive!). The cheapest 5yr listed in the Mail on Sunday was 4.15% (but only if you have 40% equity). Ms Reeves has a debt problem (and unfortunately therefore so do we). I wonder how she will solve it?
Reply Yes gilt yields well above Truss levels which Reeves said â crashedâ the economy. Gilt prices of course well down.
January 7, 2025
Good morning.
It is also important to note that Mr. Musk has also been very vocal about German politics, especially with regard to the AfD. One might think that Mr. Musk has more important matters nearer to home to deal with than those across the Pond ?
I too rarely comment on Reform, I am not a member / subscriber and therefore do not have a say. I comment on the two main parties as, each in turn have had an impact on my life. So I am entitled to express my views.
As for Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) I feel that, whist he has not helped himself in many matters, he has been the subject of some very harsh treatment. And a victim of what one could argue as, ‘cruel and unusual punishment’.
Currently he is being help in solitary confinement for contempt of court. I am not a lawyer, KC or a Judge of any kind, but I do not feel that keeping him in solitary confinement is standard treatment for someone who has broken that particular law. I do not believe he is a threat to the general public, unlike some.
Whether one agrees, likes or dislikes someone and / or their position(s) on certain matter(s), people are entitled to be treated fairly under the law and, when this is not the case, for others to bring such matters to public attention. Reform have the right to refuse Stephen Yaxley-Lennon membership, but they cannot refuse his right to be treated fairly under our law.
For if Reform is to stand for anything, it is to stand by those who are vulnerable and subject to excesses of the State.
January 7, 2025
My understanding is that Robinson requested solitary confinement rather than it being imposed upon him.
Am I mistaken?
January 8, 2025
My understanding is that the crime he committed usually carries a non-custodial sentence. ie He should not be in prison at all.
January 7, 2025
@Mark B – you show you understand ‘free-speech’ and freedom its-self. The right to challenge the belief sets of any individual or groups and to be challenged yourself, thatâs how life grows and improves understanding. That is where the two main partyâs that have ruled this century are at Oddâs with you and the majority in this Country, they have both stepped up control and centralisation to create a society in their own personal image.
Reading comments elsewhere ‘Reform’ are in ascendancy in much the same way Sunak/Hunt/& the Conservatives had to go, they are not Labour,Conservative, or even LibDems/Greens. People want their Country back, their Democracy, their freedoms, as it stands ‘Reform is the best way to clear out Parliament and become Normal
January 7, 2025
Emmanuel Todd,considered by some to be the greatest living French intellectual(I can’t comment on that but I have enjoyed-and agreed with-most of his ruminations over the past few years),had this to say on French TV yesterday(which I certainly agree with!):
“Elon Musk is an astonishing character.He’s the richest man in the world and so he has no filter.So,he says things that seem absurd to us.I mean,he interferes in German politics,he basically cr**s on the Germans.He interferes in English politics,he cr**s on the English.He’s just saying it out loud,but the truth is that when you read American geopolitical experts,this is what the Americans think of us!Meaning he talks to Europeans the way Americans think.Americans despise us for our servility.And Musk is the guy who says it,so we’re shocked.”
Exhibit A:the European(non)reaction to the Nordstream attack which was effectively an act of war.
January 7, 2025
We donât even defend our children from the worst sex slavery any of us have ever heard of.
It is the whole of the British nation that has been enslaved by a handful of illegal immigrants from a very base world. Iâm not sure the Asylum Scam is survivable.
January 7, 2025
Agee completely.
January 7, 2025
I am perfectly satisfied with the way Mr Farage is leading Reform. The Party now has over 176,000 members (a 76,000 increase in just three weeks) and whilst the Party’s Constitution will need to be revised, I do not see it as the priority. Growing the Party and preventing “entryism” by factions who may (or will set out to) undermine it is more important.
I do not believe it would be in the Party’s long-term interests, or the country’s, to allow Tommy Robinson to join. It would simply allow the Establishment (Labour, CON and the Establishment Media, particularly the BBC and C4 to scream Faaaar Right at every opportunity.
Rupert Lowe is a fantastic MP and is doing more to hold the Government to account than the entire Official Opposition. In due course he will make a highly effective Minister. But I do not think he would be the right Leader, at this stage in its development, to grow the Party.
Nigel was quite right to state that retaining the Party’s principles is more important than Elon Musk’s potential donation. It contrasts very well with Free-Gear-Keir, who appears to sell any he may have very cheaply indeed.
Meanwhile, Two-Tier-Keir yesterday disgracefully branded anyone who wants a Public Inquiry into the Rape Gangs and the failure of so-called Public Servants (police, social services, councillors, MPs) who at best turned a blind eye as Faaar Right extremists…..probably about 70% of the population. That man is an absolute disgrace to the Office of Prime Minister.
January 7, 2025
I agree with you Donna
January 7, 2025
@Donna +1
Farage like most of us has flaws, flaws we donât try to hide. Yet this embryonic movement has spoken more truths in its short life than the Uniparty has managed in the whole of this Century. The reason it is and will remain the real force of the British people is that it doesn’t not represent the unlistening failures of the Uniparty that has pulled this country apart and sent its future tumbling down the drain
January 7, 2025
Donna , I agree with every word of your comment, i really wish Mr Farage would keep foreign people out of OUR business,
I must confess I am not starry eyed for Musk as my opinion is people do not make so mush money honestly.
January 7, 2025
That is a dreadful slur. Many many people have made huge amounts of money honestly and in doing so provided much wealth for others. Think Cecil John Rhodes!
January 7, 2025
He is a disgrace but let him keep scoring own goals. Just buy the popcorn and watch him cock everything up. Guido is reporting problems with five eyes security sharing as the Americans have the measure of Two Tier, Lammy etc. Love to know the behind the scenes conversations and strategy with Nigel and the Donald etc. Its like toying with children from the Nigel/American side.
January 8, 2025
The security information given to Ministers and PM’s is very much watered down. This comes from both those who were given briefings and those who were on the Joint Intelligence Committee giving said briefings.
January 7, 2025
Well said Donna.
January 7, 2025
Ah, hadn’t thought of that. Yes I am sure the two big parties would try anything to get inside Reform and disrupt it.
January 7, 2025
+1
January 7, 2025
Still a little good news – the dire Trudeau has gone, only a couple more weeks of Biden and the Archbishop of Canterbury has gome too. Alas not from the Lords though – why every not? Muskâs comments on Jess Phillips seem fair comment – once in power she falls at the first hurdle. Certainly more justified & reasonable that many of the Shadow Cabinetâs & Mandelsonâs moronic attacks on Trump.
January 7, 2025
We’ve lost Trudeau and Welby, two Justin’s in quick succession
Both wokerati and both wrong on most accounts
Nigel is doing a fantastic job of growing Reform and he has to be careful it doesn’t get infected by the uniparty disease of following the WEF/UN agenda
Standing firm against Musk will benefit the party in the long run. Onwards and upwards.
January 7, 2025
The Labour government is pressing ahead so that only zero-emission vehicles will be sold after 2035, and itâs opened a consultation to give the motor industry a chance to pitch in on how to handle the transition. âNo new petrol or diesel cars will be sold after 2030. All new cars and vans will need to be 100% zero emission by 2035.â.
So how will this work? This as EV cars cause more emissions per mile than ICE cars do in general. This in their manufacture (car and battery), in higher tyre wear due to their higher weight and at the power station as they are charged. So we do not even have any such thing as a zero emission car!
January 7, 2025
So two Tier Kier thinks that the vast majority of the countryâs population are âfar rightâ as they want a full inquiry into the mass rapes of young girs in over 50 towns by certain sections of the community and the reasons for the abject & massive failures of politicians, the DPP, the police, social servicesâŠto take action. I wonder why.
In their July manifesto Labour pledged it will launch a public inquiry into the Battle of Orgreave. Clearly this 40+ year old âbattleâ is far more important than the rape and torture of many thousands of children and the ignoring of this by the powers that be to Labour and Jess Phillips.
January 7, 2025
It was noticeable that the Home Secretary’s belated announcement about stronger prison sentences for gang-rapists involved in the so-called grooming process included nothing whatsoever about a proposed change in the HRA so that the monsters can be deported, along with their family members who did nothing to report or stop the abuse.
THEIR “human rights” still take precedence …. and that’s just how the left wing Establishment intends to keep it.
January 7, 2025
@Lifelogic – you said in your opening sentence ‘two Tier Kier’
January 8, 2025
Reeves budget – a budget to growth she said. Yet every measure was hugely anti-growth. 180 degree out on everything, moving ever more money from the productive to the state sector and hugely inconveniencing the productive too. Pushing investment and the hard working overseas,
January 7, 2025
A HUGE problem in the right-wing (and liberal and socialist) media is that they go to extremes / exaggerate in order to sell newspapers. They pretend to be ‘experts’ in a particular field when they’re clearly not. And so, from one degree to another, politics is influenced by what the media think (which is primarily about selling newspaper etc) as opposed to deep and careful analysis. So we get lets of soundbites but little substance. And politics needs substance.
January 7, 2025
I am not a member of Reform though I voted for their candidate (unseen) at the last GE because I had no confidence whatsoever in the alternatives. Has Musk said why he thinks Farage is unfit as leader? All I have seen is speculation. If Musk wanted to attach unacceptable conditions to a potential donation, then it would be right to reject them. Nigel Farage is a marmite personality who puts off some people; is this the reason? There is no doubt he is an effective political campaigner, is knowledgeable, can think and speak on his feet without a prompter. Right now he has national recognition and is effective in building the Reform party. Over time it remains to be seen if it can become a party of substance. That requires active members, local representation, a functioning back office, a coherent well-thought out policy platform and MPs capable of forming a government. There is a lot to do. I hope Reform succeeds because the UK needs an alternative party in power that actually understands what is needed to promote wealth and prosperity and not drive the UK into the ground.
January 7, 2025
Let’s consider the main issue that Elon Musk raised – is Farage the best possible leader for Reform UK, and what does it mean anyway to be a successful party leader? To my mind, it means getting the party organised to win elections. Farage is an outstanding orator, but has he put in place a structure that gets results? Well, he has only been party leader for 6 months, let’s remember. So we shall see, but his predecessor for three years, Richard Tice, certainly did not. In the Wokingham area and further afield, Reform’s on-the-ground organisation and even basic communication have been utterly woeful. Under Tice, Reform tried (and usually failed) to organise at constituency level. The Lib Dems realised years ago that organising at local council election level is what works, but I see no sign that Reform have grasped that point, around where I live. Winning elections isn’t about speech-making, it’s first and foremost about getting groups of people together who will go out week after week leafletting and canvassing for you, and getting the votes out on election day. I don’t know if that’s what Musk had in mind, but that’s the way I see it.
January 7, 2025
You may rarely comment on oppisitikn parties, but take this opportunity to cast doubts on Reform.
You only have to look at your own party and the democratic way they dealt with Liz Truss, plus of course who actually pulls its strings, to realise that you are living in a glasshouse. Then of course there is Labour, the tool of those centres of democracy, the trade unions.
Reform is a nacent party working out its own constitution. With so much opportunist band wagon jumping one can only conclude that all in the UK totally failed political system see it as a threat. The real threat to what has gone before is that it is the growing voice of the people. You heard it in 2016 and the establishment have been fighting it ever since. Even you who was happy with 2016 feel obliged to cast the dust of doubt, it won’t work. The people will rise above the distractions of Musk and Robinson and recognise it as the establishment fighting the inevitable.
When do you intend to voice your opinion on the great uni-party , establishment cover up of the industrial rape and exploitation of thousands of white, very vulnerable, very young girls by gangs of largely men of Pakistani, east and west, origen. That is the topic of 2025. You are free to express an opinion and hear that of your contributors. It is the peak of the culture clash that multiculturism and the establishment have given birth to, and via inaction, nurtured.
Reply I have not passed judgement on reform. We had 14 years on this site daily criticising the Coalition and Conservative governments. I have posted on gang rape today.
January 7, 2025
Good Morning Mr. Redwood, nice article, but it might be worth looking at the part of Mr. Farage holding the controlling vote of the party, I have a feeling this may no longer be the case.
Kind regards
January 7, 2025
Muskâs sensible reply to the PPE dope Ed Davey demanding the government call in the US ambassador to complain about Musk :- Musk âWhat exactly do I fail to understand about your failure to stop the mass rape of little girls in Britain, you snivelling cretin?â
How will Ed Davey reply I wonder? Probably not. One of the politician favourite tricks is to say X or Y is talking complete and utter drivel or making factual errors usually without actually saying what the factual error were. Often because they cannot or fear litigation if they are specific. Spear the mud wide there must be something it might stick too.
January 7, 2025
Reform is a limited company acting as a fringe party with a mere 5 MP’s, which attracted a lot of voters who wanted to give the Conservative party a kicking at the last election. Reform is a complete irrelevance in British politics and only attracts so many headlines because of the carefully calculated utterances of Farage and one or two of his other MP’s
It would seem that Elon Musk has seen through Farage, who finally gained a seat in Parliament at the sixth attempt. Farage has refused to attend constituency surgeries in his Clacton seat (why?) and spends most of his time in America. Best his next stay there is a lengthy one.
January 7, 2025
7th attempt. He has had an unbelievable opportunity to grow a political party for 30 years. Failed each time. This will be no different.
January 8, 2025
Hardly irrelevant. They are, like Trump, at least sound on the net zero lunacy, the levels of immigration, the size of the state unlike the Uni-Party⊠True first past the post and the old party brand hits them hard but the old parties are destroying their brands very effectively. We shall see how it goes in four + years time I suppose.
January 7, 2025
The way the party is structured as a legal entity is irrelevant. Look at the Conservatives – which of their policies were developed by the members ? None. How can the members change the leader ? They can’t. And yet they are not organised as a limited company. If Reform members were genuinely concerned about this they’d have fewer members than the Conservatives not lots more wouldn’t they ?
January 7, 2025
The Birmingham Reform conference massively endorsed the Constitution which is suppposed to turn Reform into a shareholder party with all members and Nigel giving up his majority. This was trumpeted by Zia Yusuf and Nigel who promised it would be implemented immediately. There is nothing stopping that except Nigel is the only conclusion we can reach. Nigel must implement it. It could be done in days. We cannot have a supposedly democratic party led by a dictator structure.
January 7, 2025
Elon Musk seems to favour Tommy Robinsonâs pursuit of free speech and supports his freedom from custody, yet he is reported to be there owing to repeated contempt of court.
Nigel Farage leads Reformâs high performance with strong authority, and power to prevent anybody unsuitable being in the party.
Muskâs wealth endows financial power with influence, but not the power of decision within UK parties. Leading UK figures may influence whom Musk employs or supports, if they thought that was in their interest, but with little or no effect. Musk performs splendidly in many ways, yet exhibits fickle, even childlike reactions.
Farage speaks clearly with his own quality standards and maintains consistency. His denouncement of Robinson was probably beyond what Musk felt comfortable with, triggering tit for tat.
Robinsonâs quest for protection of free speech gains strong support from many, yet breaking the law in doing so works only against that.
January 7, 2025
The recent ‘spat’ between Musk and Farage comes into the area of politics that says.
All publicity is good publicity.
January 7, 2025
But the bottom line is correct. Farage does not have what it takes – to be the PM of the U.K. he;s not even doing the job of an MP.
January 7, 2025
The whole thing seems contrived to me but Reform does need to reform its constitution to gain legitimacy.
Intra party debate is unfortunately something parties have to deal with
January 7, 2025
Robinson may or may not be an ogre, but as with all of us he deserves equal treatment under the law. It seems he hasn’t had it, from the DPP bringing contempt charges in what was a civil matter to the harshness of the sentence.
Robinson has been made a bete noir by our establishment and media. Whether he deserves it I have no idea. But it has made many voters loathe him and many voters don’t care (or positively relish) if someone they dislike is subject to lawfare. Look at the cheering of Trump’s legal troubles.
Farage is in that quandary politicians often find themselves in, where sticking to your principles may cost you power. In his case, it might mean Reform never getting into government.
I think he could have said the important issue here is ensuring we have equal treatment under the law. It’s fundamental to our way of life. On this issue, Robinson’s treatment appears to be unusually harsh, against a backdrop of light sentencing we’ve all seen for many very serious offences. Also the manner in which the prosecution was brought in Robinson’s case was unusual. Both of these points together only reinforce the sense of a two Tier justice system emerging in our country which should be called out and resisted by all democratic political Parties.
On the side issue of whether Robinson should be allowed to join Reform, it would simply be damaging to let him in. He’s been involved with groups we wouldn’t associate with, and whatever his current opinions he remains a highly controversial figure: his membership would be a gift to our opponents and a constant distraction and hinderance to the Party’s job of reviving Britain.
Easy for me to suggest. I wouldn’t like Farages job and wish Reform well.
January 7, 2025
The mainstream parties, Tories for 13 years and now Starmer, created Tommy Robinson by their wilful refusal to deal with the ghettoisation of parts of this country in the name of social cohesion, indeed this is still happening and and to maintain the myth of multiculturalism, debunked by no less an authority as Trevor Phillips.
Having turned a blind eye for years they are indeed getting on a political bandwagon but thatâs not a reason to continue to justify no action.
Rupert Lowe exists politically only because of Farage but is another in a long line whose arrogance and self belief far outweighs their ability.
Musk is a disruptor and cozy establishments, this happens equally in big business with aggressive hedge funds, will always let out squawks of indignation, get the âsmearâ train going etc when yet again, it is they that caused the problem.
January 7, 2025
Elon Musk couldn’t care less about Reform or Donald Trump except to try change the views of some on the right about the type of Green Tech Musk has made his billions on.
Musk is way cleverer than these people when it comes to business (although he’s useless at social media). His agenda is all about Tesla (and his other brands).
And Elon Musk is also an example of how you can make billions out of Green Tech (the richest man in the world)!
(But he wouldn’t be able to make this money on pure sales. He is ultimately offering something the consumer wants whether you agree with the consumer or not!
January 7, 2025
Musk has done many admirable things and achieved wonders in his field. But he is a baby in the political world and doesn’t understand British politics. He should defer to Nigel Farage. the advantage of not being funded by Musk’s UK entities is that it avoids charges of being bought. The Labour Party is bought – by the unions – but we have got used to it so we don’t mind. there is something – not a lot these days – to be said for political representation of the ‘working classes’.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of Tommy Robinson’s career and of his treatement by the authorioties in the UK, associating him with Reform would be a gift to Reform’s enemies, playing the identitarian card which trumps all others in modern Britain. Association with him would sink Reform as surely as any kind of partnership with The Conservative Party. That may be harsh on Robinson but it is the way of politics in the UK.
I heard an extended interview with Rupert Lowe a few days ago and was impressed and slightly surprised at his depth. He should be listened to.
January 7, 2025
To me possibly the most intriguing aspect of this spat, is that someone of Mr Musk’s stature and ability, is showing such deep interest in Reform, and how it is run. I do agree that until it becomes controlled by its members, Reform cannot be regarded as a desirable party of Government, but for the time being Mr Farage seems to be doing a very good job growing its membership, which must be priority at this stage of its development. I also think he is right to be very careful who the party allows to become a member.
We all have to thank him for providing another possible alternative to the Labour and Conservative parties, both of which have failed this country, with little sign of anything changing in that regard.
January 7, 2025
Reform may not be perfect. But for whom else can those voters who want a sovereign, free, democratic, stable, secure, well-ordered and prosperous country rather than one pursuing economic and national security destroying Net Zero, the mass immigration of the third world with first century cultures, laws and practices, the fast expanding Communist woke Civil Service and a police force chasing non-crime hate incidents online rather than real crime, vote?
January 8, 2025
Exactly. The uni-party are for a big state, net zero, vastly high taxes, piss poor public services, open door low skilled immigration and woke lunacy in all directions how can one vote for them.
January 7, 2025
Sir John
Today you illustrate a multitude of situations where no simple sound-bite could provide proper insight of the upheavals we face.
Musk having an opinion on British politics, some have extreme views on this and see it as external interference. Labour opened the door for direct interference when they directly interfered with their own staff in the US election in support of Biden.
Then of course Elon Musk being Canadian has the same âHead-of-Stateâ as us here in the UK. Hehas a two-time ex-wife who also British. So, there is an obvious interest as to what happens here. He has seen how the Uniparty WEF representative in Canada has destroyed that Country – so has insight worth listening to.
January 7, 2025
Elon Musk like most of us now called ‘far-right’ believes in freedom and the freedom of speech – some thing that now in the UK gets to receive a derogatory term by Socialists. A difficult one to renationalise when the last time we saw this sort of extremism it was from National Socialist Workers’ Party, a party of the Socialist Left that was called ‘Far Right’, yet their actions and deeds seem similar to todayâs Uniparty.
What we are really expressing is the difference between those that support freedoms, and the fact that views can legitimately get challenged, no matter how much they are at odd and disagree. Then those such as two tier Kier that will lock those that challenge him, his views and his beliefs up – the worlds control freaks where disagreements need to be drowned out and banished by diktat and rule.
January 7, 2025
Musk is Rhodesian.
January 7, 2025
The constitution of Reform UK is an important issue necessitating change. Unless and until all members have an equal say in the running and leadership of the Party many people will resist joining. The departure of Ben Habab over this and other related constitutional issues highlights the difficulty. Reform has a golden opportunity to reshape British politics and sweep away uni-party policies that have so damaged our Country since the days of Blair and Brown, however unless there is full membership democracy I fear the project will stall?
January 7, 2025
The constitution of Reform UK is an important issue necessitating change. Unless and until all members have an equal say in the running and leadership of the Party many people will resist joining. The departure of Ben Habab over this and other related constitutional issues highlights the difficulty. Reform has a golden opportunity to reshape British politics and sweep away uni-party policies that have so damaged our Country since the days of Blair and Brown.
January 7, 2025
Musk is doing what the MSM fail to do – bring a critical yet honest review to the table.
Without Farage at the head Reform would not be doing so well, that is obvious. But let’s be honest, even the best politicians have their blind spots and areas or people they cannot agree with.
I believe Tommy Robinson would make a great addition to reform, but Farage is still stuck with the idea that reform would be crucified for supporting him. That is wrong. Tommy Robinson has done a great deal to make us all aware of the 2 tier justice system and the many problems with immigrants. It is time for Farage to take a closer look at this man who has suffered so many injustices.
I trust Farage and Musk can come to a better understanding.
January 7, 2025
All the publicity about Musk and Nigel is detracting from the real issue of who in authority has let our girls down over the last few decades. I would say this issue has been hijacked by the media to continue the cover-up and brush this whole sordid scandal under the carpet. We need to keep the light shining on the rape gangs and out those responsible for the disgraceful cover-up that has been going on. Iâve always supported TR and his crusade to stop this evil practice. He has produced some fantastic documentaries highlighting disturbing truths about how a culture thinks itâs OK to sexually abuse underage girls. He should have been lauded for his work, not thrown in prison. Not only has he never expected to be allowed to join Reform, heâs never even mentioned doing so. He knows his previous leadership of the EDL precludes him. He has told his supporters to vote for Reform and supports the party from the outside. Letâs get our focus back on the girls as this abhorrent scandal is continuing today.
January 7, 2025
Elon Musk has a brain that doesnât work like the majority of ours. He is very vocal and often speaks his mind without thinking through the consequences of his words. I think he will become a problem for President Trump in the future. Uncharacteristically Nigel has made a mistake attacking TR. There was no need to badmouth him as they both agree the rape gangs need stopping. A much better response was the one given by Rupert Lowe. Given Nigelâs past experience with UKIP I can see why he is very protective of Reform. He has to be careful he doesnât move towards the centre ground, which is overcrowded. Bringing in too many ex-Tories could be a mistake and backfire.
January 7, 2025
Politicians never learn the lessons of history or twist the narrative to suit their beliefs/aims.
Hitler (an extreme example) rise fuelled by the outrage at the crushing terms of the Versailles Treaty.
The rise of the right across the world in response to migration and the impact on cultural beliefs and a feeling that the resident population is treated as âsecond classâ cue walk in surgeries, accommodation, instant free dentistry etc
Both Germany (AFD) and France (Le Pen) and indeed the U.K. Reform a similar direct response. Thatchers cloth ear led to Poll Tax riots, Cameron and the liberal elites bullying on Brexit. All followed a similar path. Look down/ignore the feelings of ordinary people, smear as racists, populists etc.
Such repression ultimately will find an outlet and encourage the Tommy Robinson of this world. Hopefully some one reflecting these views but more moderate will emerge.
If the Tories continue to allow the One Nation group, who are guilty of creating our current problems, to control the narrative, Badenoch is wasting her time unless Reform implode because of infighting.
Rupert Lowe, be careful what you wish for.
January 7, 2025
Reform without Nigel Farage would get nowhere. The only reason it has reached 20-24% support is because of Nigel and Richard Tice. Elon Musk is a brilliant guy but he should keep out of politics in other peoples’ countries. Nigel is absolutely right to want nothing to do with Robinson. To have him in the party would just give all the ammunition needed to the BBC and every other Woke, left wing news organisation that are determined to keep Labour in power, despite the fact that they are very obviously failing and that Starmer has neither the ability or the quality of ministers capable of making the necessary decisions to turn the country around. It is incredible how far things have been allowed to deteriorate in only six months.
In my 73 years, during 55 of which I have had a keen interest in politics, I have never been as worried as I am today about the future or the country. To pursue Rachel-From-Accounts economic plans and Milibands’ ludicrously expensive Net Zero objectives is going to do untold damage to our economy and manufacturing. Closing down North Sea oil and gas production is the biggest act of harm done by any government.
We will become much poorer and they will do immense damage to our balance of payments. It will likely end with a loss of confidence from the markets, a deep recession and intervention from the IMF. It reminds me of the 1976 Sterling crisis when Callahan had to go to the IMF for a bail out.
We could see this being repeated before 2029 unless Starmer changes direction, which he won’t of course.
January 7, 2025
The rapid growth of Reform brings hope and sends a strong message to the Government
Reform will need to become democratic and not just be about Nigel Farage
I hope Mr Musk’s contribution will be positive one !
January 7, 2025
Sir John
” Nigel Farage is promising change to the constitution but others are frustrated with delays” who is concerned with delays?
Reform are at the start, a mere embryonic Party. The Conservative party deserted the UK’s Conservatives . while the people stayed patient for 14 years hoping they would find their way back. Instead it moved further into Socialism away, morphing into the worst of the worst ‘Blairs Labour’, then thought it had reinvented itself by choosing continuity. Labour stole power by hiding its principles but mainly because they werenât these faux-Tories.
Reform could win big simply because they are suggesting they are not the Uni-party. Nigel will am sure evolve this creation as and when. If he can motivate the cause of real democracy in the way he has pulled his party together in a short space of time, does it matter to much that he is not mimicking the failure we all have to endure from those that are said to be our legislators, those dragging the UK into the gutter.
Reply Ben Habib is one senior former Reform member who complains re the lack of a new constitution
January 7, 2025
You have had your election and Starmer is the PM – there will be another election in four years time so why not wait until then before tearing everything down which from an outsider
point looks like you’re bent on doing. Today Trump Jr is going to Greenland to make trouble and I hope they detain him on some minor passport infringement while Trump Sr is talking about Panama again these are all distractions by the crazies and you’d be best advised to steer clear. Then as far as Musk goes – if necessary governments together can bring in law to put a ‘delay’ into the output of “X” to allow for moderation, not censorship, just a six hour delay on the line and that will soften his cough. Murphy Dublin
January 7, 2025
Four years time might be too late.
Why do they need a delay? I’d be more in favour of moderation of BBC output.
The sooner the boil is lanced the better.
January 7, 2025
Starmer held Boris Johnson to account for the actions of Johnson’s underlings during Covid. So presumably Starmer should be held to account for the actions of those under him when he was DPP.
January 7, 2025
Farage’s behaviour was bound to alienate Musk: one could see it coming. It was no surprise. Bragging about 100 million coming his way, bragging about Musk’s cast iron support, bragging likewise about Trump, setting up a straw man over Robinson – Musk wasn’t asking him to accept Robinson as a member (Farage has now dropped that detail) and Robinson wasn’t asking to join – making out Musk was a fool whom Farage would soon put right when they were rubbing shoulders at the inauguration; and most of all, kicking a man when he was down, a man who had told millions of people to vote Reform, and was being targeted with lawfare because of his brave championing of our dead soldiers returning under attack, and of the 250,000 underage victims of the rape and torture gangs. Trump too is a victim of lawfare, which Farage would do well to remember, and Mandelson, with whom Farage wants to work, has quite a past.
When Musk recognized Robinson is a political prisoner, in a category A prison, being treated as a terrorist, having been investigated (for contempt) under terror laws, Farage could just have kept quiet. He didn’t need to keep on and on lying about Robinson with that ugly look on his face. The suspicion is he won’t brook people he believes to be more popular than he. He lied continually about Boris when he, Farage, failed to become PM in 2019; he lied about Ben Habib; he is lying about Robinson; he is lying about Musk; and maybe Lowe will be next. And all the time he is trimming, jettisoning principle, to curry favour with Southern liberals who will never vote for him. In the process he has turned off millions who would have. The Conservatives made that mistake. The rule must be Trump’s: the tent is big enough for anyone who wants to Make Britain Great Again. There can be no place for petty enmities and ever more splits.
This is a sad moral collapse of a once great man and does not promise great future leadership for a country in dire straits.
January 7, 2025
PS I don’t think Farage realizes the media are giving him a fair wind at the moment because he is destroying the Conservative Party. As soon as he has done that it will be business as usual and no amount of treachery and trimming will persuade them to spare him.
January 7, 2025
The people dismantling the country at the moment may have all been to the hairdresser but they are deadly serious revolutionaries, as the Blairites were. They aren’t romantic students like Corbyn. Farage should never have let them in. The pace at which they are destroying our economy, constitution, education, countryside, cities, and a whole lot else is terrifying. If we are ever to free ourselves, there must be unity. But at the moment we have UKIP, Reform, Reclaim, Heritage, SDP, English Democrats, several kinds of Unionists, and Conservatives. How on earth can we get the country back like that? All too many of them are refugees from Farage.
January 7, 2025
Sir
I saw a comment on social media that Tommy Robinson has been demonised by the UK media and it will take time for him to regain credibility with a large proportion of the UK people. This explains the reluctance of Nigel Farage to accommodate Mr Robinson within the Reform Party, although Mr Robinson has not said that he would like to join.
There was a suggestion that, when he is freed, Mr Robinson might be interviewed by a non-uk journalist to as wide an audience as possible so that everyone can see who he is and come to their own conclusion about him.
January 7, 2025
Which religion?
January 7, 2025
I agree with Farage on his stance on Tommy Robinson. He needs to steer clear of someone so mired in controversy. However, I do not think Tommy Robinson should be held in a high security prison. He should be in an open prison if at all. By treating him so badly he will only attract more attention and followers. I do think he should be given credit for calling up the rape gangs long before the politicians did. As to Elon Musk, he believes in free speech so let him catch himself out, as he will in the end. Actually, we can thank him for bringing this terrible gang rape situation back to the fore and I hope the present lot in government finally do something constructive about it and do not say LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNT. How sick I am of hearing that phrase and no one pays for their disgusting behaviour to good honest people.
January 7, 2025
We don;t know whether Tommy Robinson has even tried to join Reform but no political party calling itself Reform should ignore the most important issue which faces the country. Since we have left the EU, it is time for Reform to decide what it stands for now if it is not to protect those communities which have been signally failed by the liblabcon.
I suggest people watch Tommy Robinson’s two interviews with Jordan Peterson on YouTube before taking a view.
January 7, 2025
Would you please direct me to where Elon Musk said Tommy Robinson should be allowed to join Reform or Tommy Robinson requesting to join Reform? How about focusing on the real issue which is the way in which these rape gangs have operated for decades and many in positions of authority both locally and nationally have in effect been complicit by putting party electoral interests and not offending certain communities before the safety of children.
January 7, 2025
I have been a tory voter for many years, hoping the party would stand up for British people. I have been disappointed post Thatcher. The party’s ambivalent response to the vote for brexit has been sad to witness. Their failure to address the implications of net zero dogma upon the energy cost to industry and the public is impossible to overlook. Their nodding donkey continuation of the massively overcosted HS2 that fails to address the infrastructure improvements essential for the north and west shows a narrow London centric mindset.
There had some indicators for a more dynamic approach to improving our economy, Boris despite all his faults and Truss despite her naively impatient political tactics, but infighting and game playing destroyed their chances.
I am left with only one choice for change. And we need change. I can only vote for reform and hope they will walk not talk. I am horrified at the tirade of reset, build the foundations, go for growth, that we currently get from labour. I am scared for the future of the UK.
January 7, 2025
Hasn’t there already been an inquiry into the abuse of children? Didn’t it come up with 22 recommendations? Didn’t the last government fail to implement any of them? And the point of another inquiry would be … ?
January 7, 2025
In this Country people darenât talk about Tommy Robinson, thatâs how bad things are. One guy who followed him on twitter that worked as CEO of the UKs Speech and Language Therapist Body has had to apologise for following him, he was deeply sorry for the hurt, upset, distress, fear and anger that this caused members, colleagues and staff after it was revealed he was following the political activist. Calls were made for him to resign by members a barrister was appointed. I have read nothing that said he retweeted TR, or agreed with anything, this was simply for following his account!
Cancelling people in the UK is happening all the time, one young lady killed herself because of the vitriol about her and a #BeKind momentum started and fizzled out.
January 7, 2025
I think that people are taking this argument too seriously. Elon is one of those geniuses who may be bordering autistic. Newton and others are also assessor as this. It used to be called excrntric. He speaks his mind and doesn’t care about social niceties.
Nigel also speaks his mind but is also very sociable. He is great inoppositon but doesn’t have the serious killer instinct.
January 7, 2025
For now, the payment or not of an annual sub is as good a vote as any in the current leadership. I imagine if numbers began to drop, the Board would look at corrective action whether this was change of leadership or anything else.
Not really a contemporary issue.
Perhaps we should more be asking why the Conservative membership was thrown under the bus when it changed its leader. No point in having a constitution if its ignored by the Parliamentary Party