2 private donations of £36m each to one political party - is this the future of democracy in a world at the mercy of tech bros?

[IwantToRetire]

Not particularly interested in discussing Reform. As anyone who wants to do that could set up a thread just like there is one about the Greens.

Of course the money could just be frittered away, but do these donations create an imbalance in terms of other parties having a voice, not just now, but when there is the next General Election.

For info (and there may be others) short bios about each man who has donated. Although, if as stated, they don't expect to decide party policy, maybe their personal history doesn't matter.

https://news.sky.com/story/ben-delo-and-christopher-harborne-who-are-reform-uks-two-mega-donors-13584792

Edited to add: I would ask this question if such donations had been made to any other Party, whether Labour, Tory, Greens etc..

And Tory ones.

Im a Conservative voter. I just don't approve of Labour's gerrymandering and the majority of the government's actions. I don't think Reform would be worse. At least they would sort out the number one priority currently of the British people which is immigration.

You think Labour's strings aren't pulled?

Watching Labour traduce extremely high tax payers is like watching turkeys voting for Christmas.

As is watching women voting for a party that puts women second.

How original.

It’s incredible to see their political self survival and emotion override any sense re wanting wealth creators and higher tax payers here.

That's true. So much for putting the country's interests first.

Yes, Reform certainly does that already. Its leader cheers on the assault of women who don't agree with him for a start.

There are women voting for a party that condones assaulting them.

You can tell because the language is so heaped against the donors. Typically attracting wealth creators would be what any party wants. Political survival and sweat.

Why hasn't he been arrested, in that case?

How will Reform solve the immigrant issue and how will that boost our economy?

I was simply quoting the PP, Blossom. No need to sound so condescending (predictive text put something else there that amused me but has been corrected).

Because his victim hasn’t brought charges presumably. We all saw Stephen Cooling set about her with his walking stick and someone else pull her hair. Very strange morals and values Reform supporters have.

Have a look at their policies and judge for yourself. As I said I am a Conservative who thinks Labour is the worst option. Other than the Greens.

You can't possibly vote Tory and see Reform are way more in tune with the public on immigration. You have to be very black and white thinking according to the proponents of critical thinking. It's really quite bizarre, as well as hypocritical.

The choice to bring charges was hers. I guess that would upset her future plans for disrupting conferences though. She certainly seems to know where her priorities lie.

Please explain to me how overseas crypto billionaires are "wealth creators".

He probably committed no crime himself as he wasn't involved in the actual assault. But his behaviour was disgusting.

Please explain to me how overseas crapto billionaires are "wealth creators".

@Pineneedlesincarpet I have. Their proposals would require a radical and massive overhaul of our current legal system and would also have a significant impact on particular for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the UK-EU Trade & Co-operation Agreement. If everything they propose were to be implemented would be hugely radical and complex legislation and the detail would take much time to work out and to draft. I do not understand what it would do to help the economy - hence enquiring how Reform will do things differently and sort our our economic issues?

They’ve moved back to the U.K.

On Delo look at his background. A state school educated, Oxbridge maths student.

University of Oxford (Worcester College):Graduated in 2005 with a First-Class Honours degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.
Lord Williams's School

The Giving Pledge (2019): Became the youngest billionaire to sign the pledge, committing the majority of his wealth to global long-term causes, nuclear security, and preventing pandemics.

Can you imagine any party vilifying this person due to sweating over political survival. Usually attracting someone with these credentials would be wanted. In fact Burnham wrote an article on wanting people like this.

Instead we have Rayner losing it with ‘sugar daddies’. And the business secretary close behind with rhetoric. Incredible how much people will repeat Labour’s vilification.

Sugar coated daddies is right up there with Tory scum for showing a lack of class. What was Burnham thinking.

@EasternStandard if they definitely have moved back to the UK, it is only very recently.

I do not necessarily think that they are evil people but they have made their billions and lived overseas for a long time, in Harborne's case for over 20 years. I cannot help but think, if it weren't for Nige's enthusiasm for the de-regulated crypto marketplace, they would not be such keen supporters of Reform.