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Nick Candy, the new treasurer of Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform Party, promised Britain “political turmoil like we've never seen before” and claimed to have many other billionaire backers as well as Elon Musk.
The property developer told the Financial Times that it would “raise more money than any other political party” and that the Reform Party would have more members than the Conservatives within three months, as it attracted disillusioned Tory and Labor voters.
“We have a number of billionaires willing to donate to the party, not just Elon,” Candy said. “The Reform Party is the disruptor – this is the seed round, Series A. This will be political turmoil like we have never seen before.”
He added: “The oldest political party in the world will be overtaken by the smallest political party on the planet.”
Many in Westminster fear that financial intervention from Musk could have a significant and lasting impact on British politics, giving Reform the resources to transform itself into an entrenched instrument of power.
The party has only five MPs, but came in second place with 98 seats in the general elections in July, of which the Labor Party won 89 seats.
After meeting with Musk this week at US President-elect Donald Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Farage said the Tesla and X owner was seriously considering a donation.
Foreigners can donate money to UK political parties through British companies they own, but are prohibited from donating directly.
The Electoral Commission, the UK's election watchdog, is in discussions with the government about changing the law to ensure that only profits made in the UK are donated to parties.Supported by Sir Keir Starmer's Ethics Advisor.
Lucy Powell, leader of the House of Commons, confirmed on Sunday that the government will introduce legislation early next year to ensure political donations are “fair and robust”.
Candy, who arranged the meeting between Musk and Farage, said the American billionaire “will be the first of many wealthy donors who are legally allowed to donate.” He declined to name other billionaires willing to donate.
sweet, who defected from the Conservative Reform Party this monthHe pledged to provide at least £1 million of his own money to the party. He said the money raised would be spent on “ground game, data analysis and opinion polls” for a party that needs to build its infrastructure and systems.
Describing Reform as having “more conservative values on his little finger than the Tories”, Candy said: “Even the big Tory donors are calling me….” . . Many people will join us. “The movement has begun.”
In November, the reformatory said it had surpassed 100,000 members. The number of Conservative Party members is about 130,000.
Candy criticized the previous Conservative government and the current Labor administration for overseeing “the greatest brain drain this country has ever seen.” A lot of people are disappointed. “We are in a dangerous decline and we need to stop it.”
Reform – which hopes to win hundreds of council seats in local elections in May, and at least one mayoral position – has been boosted in recent weeks by a series of high-profile defections from the Conservative Party.
They include Tim Montgomery, founder of ConservativeHome, and former Conservative MP Andrea Jenkins.
