TUC leader calls for ban on crypto donations and says Reform’s £72m shows democracy ‘in crisis’ - UK politics live

Paul Nowak says the donations to Reform UK suggest that Nigel Farage is a politician for sale'

Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, has said that the two donations worth a total of 72m to Reform UK announced over the weekend show that democracy is in crisis.

In his speech to the TUC conference, he called for a permanent ban on crypto donations, overseas donations, and foreign-funded political ads.

Why is it that two crypto billionaires have donated 72m to Reform in just 2 days?

The evidence is clear: Reform UK is a party for sale. Nigel Farage is a politician for sale. And given half the chance, they'd sell our country down the river.

There is a direct political thread, a nasty politics, that links Nigel Farage, Rupert Lowe, and Tommy Robinson, with Donald Trump, Maga and the US white supremacist movement.

It starts with demonising migrants. It flies flags, not as an expression of national pride, but to intimidate. It fans the literal flames that set fire to hostels and libraries. And it ends up with proto-fascist mobs roaming our streets in balaclavas, targeting brave volunteers in lifeboats.