JOHN Swinney has dismissed the idea of ’foreign interference’ in the British election after billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk met Nigel Farage for talks on funding Reform UK.
The First Minister also ruled out ever working with the party, despite polls showing they could hold the balance of power in Holyrood after the 2026 election.
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John Swinney has urged technology billionaire Elon Musk to stay out of British politicsCredit: Alamy 
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Musk recently met with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and party treasurer Nick CandyCredit: PA
Asked if he was concerned about the possible influence of someone like Mr. Muskwho owns it X/Twitter And Tesla, Mr. Swinney said: “I think we have to be very careful about the sources of party funding, to put it bluntly, because the electoral law in Britain is designed to stop foreign interference.
“So I don’t know what this is other than foreign interference, so we shouldn’t have this and the law needs to be made increasingly strict to ensure that is the case.”
“If there are loopholes, gaps or problems, these should be tightened.”
Mr Musk was recently pictured opposite at Mar-a-Lago Reform leader Nigel Farage Amid reports he could be ready to pour £100m into the party.
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Any major donation could influence the 2026 Holyrood election – with polls showing Reform winning around 10 MSPs.
Mr Farage said it before Christmas that the party was in “open negotiations” with the tycoon.
He added: “He wants to help us, he is not against the idea of giving us money.”
On X/Twitter he replied to a photo of the two together with: “Time for massive reform in Britain.”
Electoral law bans foreign citizens like Mr Musk from making personal political donations in Britain, but money could come from the UK arm of X/Twitter.
Asked if he agreed with his predecessor Humza Yousaf description of the billionaire and assistant to the president-elect Donald Trump as one of the “most dangerous men on earth”the Prime Minister said: “Well, I think Elon Musk is causing massive disruption and damage in the world.
JHB on Musk’s donation to Reform and Farage
“I am very concerned about reports of money flowing into British politics and potentially into Scottish politics, which are intended to undermine the nature of our decision-making and I want to avoid that at all costs.”
Polling guru Sir John Curtice also warned this week that the success of the reform could split the pro-union vote at the next Scottish Parliament election, opening the door to the SNP come back to power.
He said: “It makes it harder for the unionists to deny the nationalist parties, the SNP and the party Greensand maybe Albaof a new majority in the Holyrood Parliament in 2026.”
Asked whether he would ever strike a deal with Reform to pass a budget or major legislation or secure the votes for reappointment as prime minister, Mr Swinney said: “No.”
He added: “I wouldn’t want anything to do with them.
“I have made it absolutely clear that I cannot tolerate the politics of Reform and Farage.
“I think they are very damaging to the fabric of our society and I would not want anything to do with them.”