PA MediaElon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as head of Reform UK, just weeks after learning the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the party.
In a post on his social network X, Musk said Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party – but did not explain his reasoning.
Farage suggested this was due to a disagreement over Musk’s support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
He said Musk’s comment was “a surprise” but that he would “never betray my principles.”
The tech entrepreneur’s comment comes hours after Farage described Musk as a “friend” in an interview on BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program.
Musk has been a strong supporter of Farage and his party, posting on X in December that Britain “absolutely” needs Reform UK.
But this week, a disagreement emerged over Musk’s support for Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
Robinson admitted in court for violating an injunction against repeated complaints about a Syrian refugee schoolboy after losing a defamation trial in 2021.
In a social media post on Sunday in response to Musk’s comment, Farage said: “Elon is a remarkable individual but on this point I am afraid I disagree.”
“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for the Reform Party and I have never betrayed my principles.”
Minutes after Farage made his statement, Musk posted to X: “Free Tommy Robinson now.”
In the interview broadcast earlier on Sunday, Farage called Musk a “hero” who makes Reform UK “look cool”.
But he added that Musk’s support “doesn’t mean I have to agree with every statement he makes about X.”
Farage said he planned to “have a conversation with (Musk) about various things” – including Robinson – during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Farage has maintained close ties with Trump, who gave Musk a role in his administration.
The question now is whether Farage’s friendship with the president-elect is affected.
Farage founded Reform UK in 2018, then called the Brexit Party, and returned to lead the party before being elected as an MP in 2024.
In December, Farage, accompanied by new Reform Party treasurer Nick Candy, met Musk at Mar-a-Lago for an hour-long meeting and began “open negotiations” over a donation to the party.
Musk’s father Errol suggested the SpaceX and Tesla tycoon might even be willing to become a British citizen to donate $100m (£80.5m) to Reform UK. Farage later said speculation about the figure was “for the birds”.
As a US citizen, Musk cannot make personal political donations in the UK – but he could make one through the UK arm of his X Company.
For now, it at least appears that rumors of a major Musk donation to reform are on ice.
Since meeting Farage, Musk has become increasingly interested in British politics, focusing on criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Musk spent the week amplifying calls from Reform UK and the Conservative Party for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The calls come after the Government rejected a request to lead an investigation into historic cases of sexual abuse in Oldham, saying the council should instead lead it.
This prompted Musk to accuse Sir Keir of failing to properly prosecute “rapist gangs” while he was director of public prosecutions.
Musk also said Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in jail” and called her a “rape genocide apologist”.
Asked about Musk’s comments with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Farage said the CEO had used “very harsh terms, but that ‘free speech was back’ on X under his ownership.
In 2022, an independent investigation by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority found that vulnerable children had been exposed to sexual exploitation in Oldham due to “serious failings” by the police and council.
The government has rejected calls for a national inquiry, instead calling for “Oldham Council must create its own”. The previous Conservative government rejected a similar request in 2022.
Phillips and Interior Minister Yvette Cooper said in a letter to the Conservatives that local authorities had already begun to open an investigation.
The letter also refers to the 2022 Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry, which investigated abuse in care homes, churches, homes or by grooming gangs.
The report brought together several previous investigations into grooming gangs, including in Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford, alongside its own investigations.
Speaking on Sunday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the Government’s priority was to “continue” to implement the report’s 20 recommendations to tackle child sexual abuse.
He told the BBC that Musk’s criticism of Phillips was a “shameful smear” and said “people like Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips have done the hard work of locking up wife beaters, rapists and pedophiles.