Is democracy being by-passed in favour of the billionaires?

Money not declared, which is against the rules.
Why not declared?
Why not follow the current rules in the country you hope to govern?

Farage failed to declare the use of a helicopter as he flew around the U.K. multiple times to reform rallies.

We won't agree. I will leave it at that.

But the question must be - does the acceptance of a new suit or specs by-pass the democratic process? I would argue that it may not reach the standards expected by the voter of the politician, but it pales into insignificance when giving consideration to the millions being proffered to Reform, Farage and Johnson by one individual, who, it appears, has been instrumental in influencing the result in more than one election.

Whitewavemark2

But I’m not clear that regarding Farage it is all out in the open and transparent - in fact I’m sure there is much we don’t know.

His Russian connection

His Breitbart Connection

His connection to Cambridge Analytica

These are just scratching the surface.

No we don't ,but we do know he is not sueaky clean, that he is a grifter and that anything he does or says needs to be closely scrutinised.

The ones we need to be most afraid of is those parading their virute while gettingup to dirty deeds behind the curtains.

Farage is a dishonest yes I agree with all said above about him , we’re sleep walking into a nightmare

Is democracy being by-passed in favour of the billionaires?

It certainly sounds like it has been seriously and potentially criminally influenced by one particular billionaire.

The was in November 2019.

Nigel Farage has ditched plans to take on the Tories in more than 300 seats, after what he said was Boris Johnson's "shift of position" on Brexit. The [Brexit] party will not now stand in 317 seats won by the Tories in 2017, but will continue to stand elsewhere.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50377396

Obviously, the disaster of Johnson’s premiership (accurately predicted by Max Hastings) and what followed was a major factor in the Tories performance in the 2024 election but one also has to wonder what the result of the 2019 election might have been under FPTP had Farage, as it is now being alleged by Habib, not been paid a million pounds by Harborne not to contest 317 of those seats.

In 2024, it was Reform splitting the right wing vote that gave the Labour such a huge majority in Parliament. Labour won more than double the number of seats in 2024 on fewer votes that they received in 2019.

Yes I read that -

“There are more things in heaven and earth Horatio” - than are dreamt of in Farage’s cupboard full of skeletons.

Will that have been part of the £1000000 paid to Johnson as a bribe for a mod contract or a different bribe?

Whitewavemark2

But I’m not clear that regarding Farage it is all out in the open and transparent - in fact I’m sure there is much we don’t know.

His Russian connection

His Breitbart Connection

His connection to Cambridge Analytica

These are just scratching the surface.

What is the news now that he was paid to not oppose Johnson in the election when he threatened to stand candidates in 300 constituencies but then withdrew. And that Johnson was paid, too?

Jane43

AGAA4

Farage never attended a surgery for the people of Clacton to hear their concerns. That's how much he cares.

There is a committee for a ten year project for the regeneration of Clacton, Farage has not attended one meeting.

Clacton is receiving £60 million from various Labour government sources. As you say, Farage hasn't lifted a finger to raise any of it.

loveclacton.org/regeneration-investment/

I am not arguing individual policies. I do not support Reformor any of its policies and am appalled at the thought that there was even a possibilty of a Reform gvernment.

What I am saying is when someone is an unlovable rogue and prances around the neighbourhood proclaiming that fact. They are a lot less of a danger than the person who sets themselves up as a pattern of moral rectitude, while actually doing all those things that they claim to avoid. It is a return to 19th century values where what you do in private does not matter providing you look as moral as possible in public.

M0nica

valdali the amount and effect is irrelevant. When someone or some party set themselves up as sea-green incorruptibles and then do what they have condemned then they stand and fall by it.

The ways of helping somene who helps you is rarely as transparent as giving their company advantages specific to them. It can be much wider than that - just friendly meetings now and again, off the record and discussing things generally, always answering the phone when they call etc. That kind of influence can befar more dangerous and insidious than Farage acepting money from someone. He is a dodgy shyster and everyone knows that.

Starmer's determination to hang onto power no matter what shows him for what he is, a man who wants and likes power of itself and once he has got it will not willingly give it up no matter what.

That kind of influence can be far more dangerous... More dangerous than deregulating cryptocurrency? Don't we need more regulation of these new, web-based technologies, not less?

& the bigger issue isnt the amount, it's the fact Starmer always declared his gift (although there was some furore as he put it under private office rather than personal, corrected as soon as he realised) but Nigel Farage's gift was given at the same time & has only just come to light as it wasn't declared at all.

AGAA4

Farage never attended a surgery for the people of Clacton to hear their concerns. That's how much he cares.

There is a committee for a ten year project for the regeneration of Clacton, Farage has not attended one meeting.

But I’m not clear that regarding Farage it is all out in the open and transparent - in fact I’m sure there is much we don’t know.

His Russian connection

His Breitbart Connection

His connection to Cambridge Analytica

These are just scratching the surface.

No, the point I am making is that Farage's personality, venality etc etc are all in the public domain, so we know what we are dealing with. It doesn't make him in any way acceptable, but we know where we are, and we weigh all these negative points against him whenever he says anything.

The Labour party, on the opposite set themselves up as sea green incorruptibles being down on everyone else who accepted gifts from individuals. Then they were discovered to be doing exactly the same thing themselves. This then raises the uestion of what other high peaks of unsullied principle are they standing on, while doing the exact opposite in private.

I am reminded of that old saying The more he talked of his honour the faster we counted the (silver) spoons Every time any one in the Labour party gets virtuous we wonder what they are really up to.

he [Farage] is not a member of a party that has always been very quick to cry foul when they think anyone is getting something they do not think they should have. Farages (sic) indifference to financial dodgy dealings by anyone in his party. including himself is not hypocritical, he lives by the rules he espouse, even if most of us do not approve of them

Wow, M0nica!

Firstly, Farage was very quick to criticise (ad nauseum) Keir Starmer for receiving the gifts.

More importantly IMO, is your interesting take on the issue. So, what you’re arguing is that, because Farage and his cronies make no bones about being morally corrupt, and are therefore not hypocritical when they are morally corrupt … that should be deemed as acceptable🤔???

It’s fine for him because he’s simply being who we know him to be?

It certainly is not irrelevant.

When a single individual donates an eye watering amount of money to a single political party making it the most wealthy political party in the country, which means it can afford a massive amount of media coverage - far and away more than labour and conservatives combined.

This wealth has come in particular from one individual who lives overseas and pays no tax in the U.K. but there are 4 other large donators.

You have therefore to ask yourself what a Thai citizen is hoping to achieve and what in fact his interest is in ensuring the continuation of a far right party and indeed Farage’s reversal of his decision to leave politics for good.

Add to that the fact that Paul Marshall provides a continuous platform to Reform in the form of GBNews - you can begin to understand why it is so alarming that very few wealthy individuals are beginning to undermine the democratic process in the U.K. and England in particular.

valdali the amount and effect is irrelevant. When someone or some party set themselves up as sea-green incorruptibles and then do what they have condemned then they stand and fall by it.

The ways of helping somene who helps you is rarely as transparent as giving their company advantages specific to them. It can be much wider than that - just friendly meetings now and again, off the record and discussing things generally, always answering the phone when they call etc. That kind of influence can befar more dangerous and insidious than Farage acepting money from someone. He is a dodgy shyster and everyone knows that.

Starmer's determination to hang onto power no matter what shows him for what he is, a man who wants and likes power of itself and once he has got it will not willingly give it up no matter what.

M0nica

Lzziedrip you clearly read all thewrong papers and media. there has been a continual discussion about Farage and his $5 million ever since it burst on the scene.

However Farage is not in government, more importantly he is not a member of a party that has always been very quick to cry foul when they think anyone is getting something they do not think they should have. Farages indifference to financial dodgy dealings by anyone in his party. including himself is not hypocritical, he lives by the rules he espouse, even if most of us do not approve of them.

Under those circumstances it is only to be expected that the Labour party and its leaders should be scruntinised in far greater detail than those who claim no virtue for themselves and are unbothered about those who transgress. If you expecct others to live up to very high standards then you must live up to them yourself and accept if you are found falling from these standards, then you are going to get a leathering

In the early day of his premiership it became clear that Starmer had received many expensive freebies, mainly clothing, for free from other people. Now had Starmer been a poorman, who devoted his life to the service of the poor then a lack of smart clothes and a need to have them provided by others is understandable, but Keir Staarmer is a wealthy lawyer, with an expensive house and all the trappings of comfortable living. Why on earth would he need some one else to pay for his smart suits and ties and why was he prepared to sell himself to successful business men to get them?

Starmer declared the gift, which was £36k. Lord Ali is a fashion tycoon, & Kier has not promoted any fashion contracts within the House of Commons nor personally promoted ASOS.

Fargage's was £5,000,000. It wasn't declared so no -one knew he had received the gift from Hargrove. Hargrove is crypto and Farage has promoted crypto and his party says they will deregulate it.Hargrove is also a Thai citizen.

WithNobsOnIt

Forget Reform.

This is just pocket money compared to what various individuals,politicians and bankers and Political parties have trousered over the years.

Plus you have all the various lobbyists. The Influencers.

The Tories did not become the Landed Gentry by giving gold sovereigns to beggars.

Let us also include Labour who have had a ton of money from the Unions and the Coop over the years.

See some of the Unions like Unite are now questioning this.

And of course the 3 or 4 American Banks the UK Govt borrow money off to pay for the Welfare Bill., Bonds etc

Due to their connection eithpower, lobbying and influence.

The people of neary all countries on this planet are just here to serve the financial and other interests of the Super Rich..

Think of recent Scandals about Mandelson, Andy Boy and Jeffrey Epstein..Loads of money.!

MP's expenses a few years back with relatives being described by the Daily Mail as having their snouts in the trough.

Nigel Farage also served as an MEP
The Europeas Union s very corrupt, dodgy place. Especially around expenses.

Maybe he picked up a few tips and tricks from Brussels?

What other politician has trousered a single £5million "pocket money" windfall?

Ben Habib has now alleged that Harborne paid Farage a million pounds to rig the 2019 election in Johnson's favour.

Catherine Blaiklock says she was asked about this by a Guardian journalist yesterday and said this happened after Farage had bullied and and harassed her into giving him her shares in the Brexit Party.

We do know this from November 2019:

Nigel Farage has ditched plans to take on the Tories in more than 300 seats, after what he said was Boris Johnson's "shift of position" on Brexit.

The Brexit Party leader had planned to run candidates in 600 seats after Mr Johnson rejected his offer of a "Leave alliance" to deliver Brexit.

But he has been under pressure not to split the pro-Brexit vote.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50377396

Lzziedrip you clearly read all thewrong papers and media. there has been a continual discussion about Farage and his $5 million ever since it burst on the scene.

However Farage is not in government, more importantly he is not a member of a party that has always been very quick to cry foul when they think anyone is getting something they do not think they should have. Farages indifference to financial dodgy dealings by anyone in his party. including himself is not hypocritical, he lives by the rules he espouse, even if most of us do not approve of them.

Under those circumstances it is only to be expected that the Labour party and its leaders should be scruntinised in far greater detail than those who claim no virtue for themselves and are unbothered about those who transgress. If you expecct others to live up to very high standards then you must live up to them yourself and accept if you are found falling from these standards, then you are going to get a leathering

In the early day of his premiership it became clear that Starmer had received many expensive freebies, mainly clothing, for free from other people. Now had Starmer been a poorman, who devoted his life to the service of the poor then a lack of smart clothes and a need to have them provided by others is understandable, but Keir Staarmer is a wealthy lawyer, with an expensive house and all the trappings of comfortable living. Why on earth would he need some one else to pay for his smart suits and ties and why was he prepared to sell himself to successful business men to get them?

Fallingstar

AGAA4

I wonder if those who voted Reform realised they were voting for a billionaire business man in Thai who certainly doesn't have the welfare of British citizens at heart.

It does worry me that, as well as the fact that Reform are a company funded by billionaires and Farage has benefitted personally from this, that some of those recently elected to serve on a local council are on the record for making outrageously racist comments. As has been said, if any other political party followed suit they would be hung drawn and quartered in a very short time.
I remember Trump stating that he could shoot a person dead and his supporters would still follow him.
Is this the kind of scenario we are facing with Farage, with supporters prepared to ignore every awful thing Reform represent??
I fear it is very much the case.

Yes, absolutely the same scenario.

Also the tactics of not answering valid questions on the basis that they are some vague "smear" is exactly what Trump did in the run-up to his first election and during his first term.

I'm amazed that it works, that we've had rules for decent conduct in politics for so long & yet people like Trump & Farage can say / do their worst & they only have to say "Fake news" & people think "oh, that's OK then".

Absolutely no comparison.

LizzieDrip

Yeh, it probably was £5million worth of glasses and frocks!

Were his specs made of solid gold and titanium and Lady S's frocks made from Vicuna wool designed by Chanel?