UKIP slavering at prospect of Musk money

NOTE: This article was published on 19 January 2025Two people who will be watching the news a little nervously this weekend are UKIP’s Chairman Ben ‘Rogue Builder’ Walker and Nick ‘The Kick’ Tenconi, the brace of convicted criminals who run the party. They have been going about with a bit of a spring in their…

NOTE: This article was published on 19 January 2025
UKIP pleading for Elon Musk funding
UKIP pleading for Elon Musk funding

Two people who will be watching the news a little nervously this weekend are UKIP’s Chairman Ben ‘Rogue Builder’ Walker and Nick ‘The Kick’ Tenconi, the brace of convicted criminals who run the party.

They have been going about with a bit of a spring in their step recently, since news came from across the water that Elon Musk looked like abandoning Nigel Farage, claiming that the Reform leader wasn’t up to the job. This, of course, might well jeopardise the $100 million bung that Musk was reported to be considering sending Reform’s way.

Crim twins

The crim twins had this wild idea that maybe they could profit from Musk’s largesse instead, not least of all because of the threesome they have now formed with another criminal, the vile Tommy Robinson, aka Stephen Yaxley Lennon.

Musk has recently been showing great affection for Y-L, and the UKIP leadership thought this might be leveraged to their advantage. They wouldn’t even want the entire $100 million. Just a paltry $10 mill would do very nicely…

And, accordingly, they addressed him directly online (above) with a not-at-all subtle plea for support – and dosh.

Oddities emerge

However, Farage is stateside this weekend (when is he anywhere else?) and is meeting Musk in an effort to prove his worth and repair bridges. And, hopefully, come back with a fat cheque, or at least the promise of one. We all await with bated breath. As do the UKIP crims.

Meanwhile, more oddities emerge about UKIP’s internal democracy and constitutional proprieties

Meanwhile, more oddities emerge about UKIP’s internal democracy and constitutional proprieties. Nick Tenconi, you will recall, has only ever been the party’s interim leader, appointed without election by the NEC after the abrupt departure of (elected) leader Lois Perry during the general election campaign. Obviously, an interim leader can’t be interim for ever, and a recent NEC meeting resolved to regularise the situation.

It was decided that an election would be concluded on 6 March, which would coincide with an extension which they have afforded to Tenconi as leader. The election would be announced to the members on 6 January.

No announcement

Ah, but wait a minute. Other than buried in the minutes themselves, you can rummage as much you will amongst the detritus that comprises the UKIP website, and, two weeks later, you will find no such announcement. Curious.

With a non-refundable candidates fee of £3000 the bar is being set pretty high for willing souls to come forward, so much so that it is being rumoured that this requirement is being waived in the case of Tenconi. So, our money is on there being but one candidate (guess who) and hence no need for anything as inconvenient as an election.

Interestingly, candidates will have also to be able to show UKIP membership of at least 6 months, which is rather more than either Perry, or  Tenconi, could boast when they assumed the leadership.

Well, it is UKIP, after all…


Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Top ten most read