The Liberal Democrats are moving to block MPs from accepting money flowing through Elon Musk's X platform, framing the effort as a shield against foreign interference in British politics. The push comes as Ed Davey's party escalates its campaign against Reform UK, which he has labeled a "franchise of Maga politics."
Davey announced the proposal on Wednesday, describing a multi-pronged attack on what he called foreign threats to UK democracy. Beyond banning MPs from taking X payments, the Lib Dems are also pushing for amendments to the representation of the people bill that would bar anyone who has served in a foreign government from donating to UK political parties, thinktanks, or campaign groups.
The timing reflects alarm over recent foreign funding patterns. The US state department has pledged to finance parties and organizations aligned with Trump's agenda across Europe, while Hungary's now-defeated government under Viktor Orbán previously funneled money to right-wing UK thinktanks and political figures.
At the heart of the Liberal Democrat complaint is X's monetization system. Under Musk's ownership, verified users earn payments based on engagement with their posts. The platform's algorithm, critics argue, tends to amplify controversial and hard-right content, creating financial incentives for inflammatory posts.
The money trail is documented in parliament's register of interests. Nigel Farage of Reform received more than £12,000 from X in recent months, with fellow Reform MPs Richard Tice and Lee Anderson also drawing payments. The largest beneficiary is Rupert Lowe, who departed Reform to lead the openly far-right Restore Britain party, collecting more than £37,000 from X.
Davey pulled no punches in his critique. "British democracy is under serious threat from powerful men outside our country who are trying to destroy it, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin," he said. "And there are dangerous forces inside our politics who are aiding and abetting that destruction."
He continued, accusing Farage and Reform of importing Trump's divisive agenda into British communities. "Even worse, they are being funded by Elon Musk, who has incited violence on Britain's streets," Davey stated, singling out Farage, Tice, Anderson, and Lowe as the beneficiaries of what he called a "loophole" in current law.
The Lib Dems are packaging these proposals under a "defending democracy" banner as they prepare for elections to Scottish and Welsh parliaments and English councils scheduled for May 7. Polling suggests Trump remains deeply unpopular with British voters, particularly after the US-Israeli attack on Iran escalated tensions that threaten global supplies of fuel and goods including fertilizer.
The representation of the people bill already contains measures restricting overseas political donations and lowering the voting age to 16 across the UK. The Lib Dem amendments would add fresh teeth to those restrictions.
Davey has consistently criticized Trump in parliament, but the party has intensified its focus on Farage and Reform's ties to the US administration in recent weeks, viewing the connection as a vulnerability ahead of the spring elections.
Author James Rodriguez: "The Lib Dems have found a potent political argument, but whether these amendments actually pass is another matter entirely."
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