Liberal Democrats Seek Ban on MPs Receiving Payments from Elon Musk’s Platform X

The Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has tabled amendments to the Representation of the People Bill that would bar MPs from receiving payments from the platform X, owned by Elon Musk. The same amendments would also prohibit individuals who have served in foreign administrations from donating to UK political parties, think-tanks or campaign groups.

The Guardian

The amendment follows concerns that foreign actors are shaping British politics. The US State Department has pledged funding to parties aligned with former President Donald Trump, and Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán financed think-tanks in the UK. Davey described these influences as a “serious threat” to UK democracy.

The Guardian

The register shows that former Reform MP Rupert Lowe has received more than £37,000 from X, the highest disclosed amount. Nigel Farage’s entries list over £12,000 in recent months. Payments to Richard Tice and Lee Anderson are confirmed but their amounts are not disclosed.

The Guardian

Davey warned that X payments allow Musk to “funnel money into the UK’s political system” and called it a “back-door” method of interference. He framed the amendment as part of a “defending democracy” agenda, noting that the bill already restricts overseas political donations and lowers the voting age to 16. No response from Reform UK or the named MPs was reported.

The Guardian

The sources contain no public rebuttal from Reform UK or the MPs named, leaving the proposed ban without documented parliamentary opposition in the record.

The Guardian

The register details payments for Lowe and Farage but does not disclose the total sum paid to all Reform-aligned MPs, nor explain how X payments might affect parliamentary conduct.

The Guardian

• “British democracy is under serious threat from powerful men outside our country who are trying to destroy it – Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin,” — Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader

The Guardian

• “Nigel Farage and Reform UK are not a British political movement, they are a franchise of Maga politics, trying to import Trump’s divisive agenda into our communities.” — Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader

The Guardian

• “Even worse, they are being funded by Elon Musk, who has incited violence on Britain’s streets. Nigel Farage, Richard Tice, Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe are all taking money from Musk via his American company X. We must close that loophole. Elon Musk should not be able to use his money to interfere in British politics through the back door.” — Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader

The Guardian

• “These are not the people we want running our councils.” — Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader

The Guardian

The Liberal Democrats plan to submit the amendments for debate before the Representation of the People Bill advances. The changes are slated for discussion ahead of the 7 May elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and English local councils.

The Guardian