Elon Musk’s Twitter is paying Nigel Farage’s Reform UK MPs thousands of pounds every month

The party leader, along with ex-Tory Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe all get a share of the ad revenue on their tweets on the social network – prompting questions over whether they should declare an interest when discussing the billionaire in Parliament

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK MPs have pocketed nearly £12,000 from Elon Musk’s X/ Twitter since entering Parliament.

The party leader, along with ex-Tory Lee Anderson and Rupert Lowe all get a share of the ad revenue on their tweets on the social network.

The staggering sum will prompt questions over whether the party’s MPs must declare an interest in the Commons when discussing social media – or Mr Musk.

And Lib Dem MP Victoria Collins called for the MPs to hand the money to Charity.

Since buying Twitter, Musk has introduced a system where users can “monetise” their tweets – meaning they get a share of the ad revenue brought in by their posts.

Critics say it incentivises people to post provocative or outrageous things to chase more money.

Last night the Mirror revealed Mr Musk’s tweets were being assessed by a counter-extremism unit in the Home Office.

In response to the story, Mr Lowe tweeted to say he’d asked the Home Office to provide details of the cost of such monitoring.

Mr Lowe also spoke positively and at length about Mr Musk during a speech in the Commons on Wednesday, praising the erratic tech billionaire’s government cost cutting scheme in the US.

Liberal Democrat Science and Technology Spokesperson Victoria Collins said: “It’s disgraceful that Farage and his fellow musketeers are profiteering from spreading disinformation and divisive content across the digital arena.

“They’ve been happy to whip up a frenzy online, riding on the coattails of Mr Musk himself – no matter the cost to communities. And now we discover, to no-one’s surprise, that they’re lining their pockets with this kind of online behaviour.

“Mr Farage, Mr Anderson and should give their X winnings to charity – ideally one repairing the damage they’ve done to communities across the country.”

In total the three MPs have trousered £11,845.17 from Twitter since July. Farage is the highest earner, pocketing £5482.04. Mr Anderson pulled down £1,720.13, while Mr Lowe raked in £4642.99.

MPs are required to declare any relevant interests verbally before speaking in the House of Commons, even if they have already submitted them to the Commons register.

They’re also required to do an additional declaration when submitting written questions and early day motions, as well as a raft of other activities.

The MPs guidelines reads: “Declaration means drawing attention to registered or unregistered interests on almost any occasion when someone else might consider them to influence what you say or do.”