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..

There is no doubt that Delo has achieved amazing things. But he pled guilty to a federal crime. Why did the orange one pardon him?

Yes. It really is something. And yet our debt piles higher and the cost of that is over £100bn in debt servicing. Trying to do the opposite of what Burnham said he wanted will only make that higher.

Mind you the business secretary did the same with hyperbolic language.

How do you think the debt should be addressed @EasternStandard ?

When did they move back to the UK?

Reform won't confirm they have.

Delo's background hasn't stopped him from pleading guilty to bank Secrecy Act violations

A good start would not be vilifying people who want to move here with backgrounds such as the one below. Even Burnham knows this hence his recent article. Labour tend to sweat, lash out and jump due to Reform.

On debt it’ll probably take a party that isn’t mired with we need to spend ever more at its core.

Lol, nothing specific then?!

You want me to specify for Healey ; this is Labour’s hole, he and Burnham will have to decide what to do. This was easily foreseeable, even before the GE.

A party dedicated to spending more but falsely stating it was all “fully funded and fully costed” would always struggle with debt costs piling up.

But if you need something the BoE guy this morning said tax hikes and spending cuts.

@EasternStandard I'm not asking for a critique of existing policies, I'm asking what you think should be done to sort out the issues?

How would lack of vilification make a difference? It’s words. The debt would take forever to pay down and let’s not forget that £1.7 trillion of the £2.7 trillion was incurred by the Tories. And, no, it wasn’t all because of Covid. The debt continued to rise under the coalition despite the slash and burn of public services.

Stop the ridiculous all rich people are bad rhetoric, which Labour have jacked up in the last few days due their political need for survival and look at tax policy as a way to incentivise people to earn and work.

We need jobs for people, especially young people.

Which is supported by PP who stated that they are somehow ‘perverting democracy’ but was unable to clarify further.

Anyway…

@EasternStandard just tax policy? That is going to provide the solution to our economic problems?

I’ve already said what the BoE guy said below. He talks about it in more detail on what to do. You can listen on to times radio on play back. But in short tax policy and spending cuts are what he said.

Do you mean Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England @EasternStandard ? When did he do the interview with Times Radio. It isn't appearing very easily.

I didn’t catch who it was. I don’t think it was Bailey, probably a former top BoE person. He made a lot of sense.

It was to address the figures that came out today on employment etc at about 8.00 - 8.30ish

Found it and listened @EasternStandard . It was the economist, Sir Howard Davies (Dep Gov BoE 1995-97). He proposed a review to raise more via VAT and removing the triple lock on pensions. He said that his overall view, is that we will continue to muddle through. Is that what you have in mind?

Yep I agreed with some of what he said but not all. I think there’s a glaring debt issue that needs a move on tax and spending cuts if not those specifically.

None of that interesting economic diversion makes the donations to Reform any more palatable. I continue to believe that there are very specific reasons for crypto billionaires to be funding Reform and they are not for the good of the general population of the UK.

Agreed

Ideology, Eastern. We are unfortunately being run by idealogues who put ideology before sense, practicality and the national interest. Which is why they have been such a disaster.

Well if I was a really rich person who paid a huge amount of tax here that was being spaffed up the wall and was being vilified by the proponents of the politics of envy I think Id probably go somewhere where the government was a bit more welcoming. Why stay where you arent wanted or liked.

Yes and Reform make them sweat and do irrational things to save their jobs.

Precisely. What’s in it for them?

What was the ideology that the Tories had that also led them to be such an economic disaster too?

OMG theres so much!

End the triple lock

Stop the Chagos deal

Cancel HS2 (if that hasnt already happenrd)

Dont even think about devolving power to the regions..it will cost a fortune and achieve nothing other than more expensive bureaucracy

End the ENI hike so people can get back into work

Lower the minimum wage. Young people are to expensive to employ

Stop benefits for ADHD etc

Benefits should not be a lifestyle choice over work. Make sure the figures add up.

Stop spaffing cash on net zero..its ruining business

Stop importing oil and gas at vast expense..reopen the north Sea

Stop illegal immigration. It can be done if theres political will

Extend the period for ILR and the qualification period for benefits

I could go on. Essentially reverse most of Labour's policies in the last 2 years and the moron premium will be lowered with any luck.