Your support helps us tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story develops. From investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC to producing our latest documentary, “The A Word,” which spotlights American women fighting for their reproductive rights, we know how important it is to analyze the facts from messaging.
At such a critical moment in U.S. history, we need journalists on the ground. Your donation allows us to continue sending journalists to speak on both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. And unlike many other quality media outlets, we choose not to exclude Americans from our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe that quality journalism should be accessible to all, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Reform MPs including Nigel Farage and Lee Anderson have been accused of profiting from Elon Musk’s X after it emerged they had made thousands of pounds by posting on the site.
Farage, Anderson and MP Rupert Lowe all declared thousands of payments from the company in their recent parliamentary register of interests, via billionaire Elon Musk’s ‘Creator’ income scheme.
The system allows premium users with more than 500 verified subscribers to “monetize” their accounts on the controversial site, which has become increasingly toxic since its takeover by the Tesla mogul in 2022.
More than £10,000 has been paid to the right-wing trio since July last year, with Mr Farage earning the most so far, according to parliamentary documents. The Clacton-on-Sea MP, who has 2.2 million subscribers, has earned more than £5,000 since joining the program.
A source told The Independent that the benefits mark an “unholy alliance” between the right and Elon Musk.
However, Mr Farage suggested that Reform MPs are not the only ministers making money from the scheme, although he and his colleagues are the only ones to have declared payments.
He said: “Many MPs are on X and have the tick. Although their opinions are minimal compared to ours, they will get money, but it’s automatic once you pay the tick, so why are we the only ones reporting it?
On December 16, Mr Anderson said he received £107.50 from the company. The next day the MP for Ashfield said he was to receive a further £1,612.63.
He said: “I earn a few pounds from X and pay 40 per cent income tax, which will help me pay for utilities. These low-level complaining MPs are all too happy to gouge the taxpayer with their salaries and expenses, but at the same time refuse to help thousands of young girls who have been raped by gangs of Pakistani rapists. They should hang their heads in shame.
Fellow Reform MP Mr Lowe said on December 11 that he had received £1,384.81 from the company. This comes after he recorded a payment of £3,259.18 from X Corp on December 3, meaning he received more than £4,600 from the company in total.
The Great Yarmouth MP said he was donating his entire MP salary to local charities and said: ‘It’s the most expensive job I’ve ever had – if I was here to “make money”, I go about it in an incredibly stupid way. »
Musk, who promotes the system as a way for users to “get paid to post” and “make a living with X,” previously claimed his revenue sharing program would reward “accuracy over sensationalism.”
In a recent update,
However, the billionaire is increasingly speaking out about British politics, with his involvement intensifying last week after launching an attack on the Labor Party’s handling of the child manipulation scandal.
The Tesla boss is a strong supporter of Reform UK, having met Mr Farage at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in December.
However, relations have recently deteriorated after Musk apparently withdrew his support for the Clacton MP on Sunday over Mr Farage’s rejection of calls to support jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley -Lennon.
Musk posted: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.
Mr Farage also received payments from Meta and Google, amounting to £2,793 and £11,116 respectively since last summer.
