Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Sheilbh]

Obviously not the most important thing which is the police investigation, but as with Nowak, I think Reform are deeply, deeply misjudging the public mood here (and again going against the express wishes of family members).

[Syt]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/11/elon-musk-family-foundation-took-tommy-robinson-to-russia-says-musks-father

Elon Musk's family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, says Musk's father
Errol Musk says far-right activist is 'a fine young man' and held meetings with Russian business figures

Elon Musk's family foundation took Tommy Robinson to Russia, according to the billionaire X owner's father, who was with the British far-right activist in Moscow as he encouraged anti-migration protests in Britain.

Robinson – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – appeared last month in Moscow, from where he issued calls for supporters to take to the streets after a knife attack in Belfast. He shared video of himself in a luxury Moscow hotel with the older Musk, whose son has been a vocal supporter of Robinson.

"I brought him out to Russia," Musk's father, Errol, told the Guardian, adding that both men had held meetings with Russian business figures. He said the trip had been covered by the Musk Foundation, a private philanthropic organisation founded by Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk.

The visit to Moscow came at a time when Vladimir Putin's regime and its proxies have appeared to be forging links with European far-right figures. At the same time, Russia was also hosting Andrew Tate, the self-styled misogynistic influencer, and his brother, who posted footage of themselves firing weapons and riding in a tank in the apparent company of the Russian military.

Police in Britain subsequently stopped and seized Robinson's phones as he returned from a trip to Russia. While Robinson had previously visited Russia several years ago, this time he appeared to be more explicit in his praise for Russia, sharing footage of Russian ultra-nationalists holding a rally in memory of the murdered British teenager Henry Nowak.

Errol Musk, who also went to St Petersburg for an annual Kremlin-backed economic forum, said that Robinson was "a fine young man".

"He's very hotheaded, but at the same time, he's learning," claimed the South African, who has travelled to Russia in the past and at one point met Putin. A Russophile who said he believed that Russia had a "genetic advantage" over the west, Errol Musk holds firmly pro-Russian positions on the conflict in Ukraine.

Topics covered in meetings alongside Robinson included Russia's attempts to address a decline in births. "Tommy really got into these meetings," he said.

Musk senior said he had become familiar with Robinson after the far-right activist was imprisoned. Robinson has a number of convictions but sought the spotlight in particular after he was sent to prison for breaching a contempt of court order.

"So I contacted Tommy, I was asked on British television once what I think of Tommy," Errol Musk added.

Last month, Robinson told the Guardian that he had come to see the "beauty of a civilised society" after visiting Russia.

Prof Stephan Lewandowsky, at the University of Bristol, who has studied the threat posed to society by misinformation, said the visit by Robinson and Tate came against the backdrop of a hybrid war that Putin was waging against the west.

"Part of that means he will recruit anyone to undermine western democracy from within, whether that is Robinson, the Tates or others involved in more conventional politics," he said. "There is a pragmatic reason for the Russians to be making links like this.

"It is to their political advantage, but there is also clearly examples of ideological alignment to the extent that we are talking about ultra-nationalist birds of a feather."

The Guardian revealed earlier this year that the head of a leading British far-right group spoke at a summit of European extreme nationalist groups convened in Russia by an influential oligarch linked to Putin.

The event in St Petersburg was addressed by Mark Collett, a longstanding far-right activist and founder of Patriotic Alternative, which attempted to exploit the summer of unrest outside asylum hotels in Britain.

[Sheilbh]

Obviously not the most important thing which is the police investigation, but as with Nowak, I think Reform are deeply, deeply misjudging the public mood here (and again going against the express wishes of family members).

Having said this - and I still think they've misread the public mood - counter-terrorism police now taking charge of the investigation given new evidence and Shabana Mahmood has offered a meeting with Farage about security.

[Barrister]

So Brits - is it actually possible for Nigel Farage to lose his by-election to Count Binface?

I'm no stranger to joke candidates - we had the Rhinoceros Party at one point in Canada.  In 1993 I went to a all-candidate town hall where a Rhino Party candidate was there.  Everyone had a good laugh, then they proceeded to get under 1% of the vote.

But in this scenario, where all major parties are refusing to run candidates?  If it comes down to Farage versus Binface (and whatever other joke candidates might show up) could there be sufficient anti-Farage sentiment?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

it's one of the elections where not voting is probably the dumbest option

[crazy canuck]

Talk about an election with no good options

[Sheilbh]

So Brits - is it actually possible for Nigel Farage to lose his by-election to Count Binface?

I'm no stranger to joke candidates - we had the Rhinoceros Party at one point in Canada.  In 1993 I went to a all-candidate town hall where a Rhino Party candidate was there.  Everyone had a good laugh, then they proceeded to get under 1% of the vote.

But in this scenario, where all major parties are refusing to run candidates?  If it comes down to Farage versus Binface (and whatever other joke candidates might show up) could there be sufficient anti-Farage sentiment?

Yeah - I think it is possible. This is a very pro-Reform constituency and he has a strong vote there. But he also won with 45% of the vote if none of the other parties are standing then I think it is more than possible that allows the anti-Farage vote to consolidate. A lot will depend on turnout and frankly, Count Binface does not have activists or a get the vote out machine while Reform are flooding the seat. On the other hand I think voters really don't like having to vote if they don't have to (Brenda from Bristol: "not another one!") and Farage has needlessly forced a by-election on the people of Clacton. The investigation into the dodgy money will continue and if he is suspended over that there will be a recall petition which still makes a second by-election likely (in which the main parties will stand).

In itself that's interesting because the conventional wisdom and Reform's own view was that they'd be competitive in the Greater Manchester mayoral race (having done very well in the local elections) so activists have been diverted from that to Farage's seat. Although there's just been a poll on Manchester with Labour on 38%, the Greens on 22%, Reform on 19%, Restore on 9%, the Tories on 8% and the Lib Dems continuing to exist. So it might be less of a cost than expected.

I think one risk is if the other parties enjoy it a bit too much. I think there is a risk that it starts to look a bit more like them taking the piss of that constituency (which is certainly how Farage will position it) rather than making Farage look ridiculous. So I'd hope we don't see many more posts by MPs from Labour or the Tories etc about bins or now and let the absurdity of the situation run on its own terms.

[garbon]

What about Laurence Fox?

[Sheilbh]

Truly the contest of ways of all the ways middle-aged dads take the divorce well.

[Jacob]

Context?

[Sheilbh]

Nigel Farage. A man standing as a joke candidate wearing a bin. Laurence Fox former actor (from the Fox acting dynasty) and now perennial deposit-losing candidate on an "anti-woke" platform.

Just a variety of very "I see your dad's taking the divorce well" behaviour.

[Jacob]

Laurence Fox is also running in Clacton, I see. It'd be great if he split the bigot vote substantially.

[Tonitrus]

...Count Binface does not have activists or a get the vote out machine while Reform are flooding the seat.

I think one risk is if the other parties enjoy it a bit too much. I think there is a risk that it starts to look a bit more like them taking the piss of that constituency (which is certainly how Farage will position it) rather than making Farage look ridiculous. So I'd hope we don't see many more posts by MPs from Labour or the Tories etc about bins or now and let the absurdity of the situation run on its own terms.

I take an opposite view...I think some activists should try to virally push his candidacy on the Count's behalf, and the other major parties should not-so-subtly support it. 

[Josquius]

Laurence Fox is also running in Clacton, I see. It'd be great if he split the bigot vote substantially.

Also a kid who looks about 12 for an ultra far right group.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/26274087.norwich-man-kai-stephens-clacton-by-election-bid/


Shame Restore are sitting it out.


And though Laurence Fox is showing up the guy who dresses like a fox has decided it's a bit beneath him.