Elon Musk sensationally turned on Nigel Farage today, saying he should be removed as leader of Reform UK because he doesn’t “have what it takes”.
The owner of
This morning, Farage referred to Musk as his “American friend” and refused to criticize him for comments he made about Sir Keir Starmer and senior ministers that have been branded inflammatory.
The billionaire accused the prime minister of being complicit in sexual assaults by British Asian men in his previous role as director of public prosecutions.
Farage used a BBC interview to claim that Musk Support for Reform UK makes the party look ‘cool’ and helps it attract younger supporters.
However, at a reform rally in Leicester on Friday, he distanced himself from Musk’s support for jailed English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson.
In a blow to his reform supporters, Musk, a close ally and collaborator of incoming President Donald Trump, wrote: “The Reform Party needs a new leader.” Farage doesn’t have what it takes.
It comes just weeks after they met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to discuss a donation to Reform, reportedly worth $100 million.
It comes just weeks after they met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to discuss a donation to Reform, reportedly worth $100 million.
The party leader, 60, praised the X owner and the world’s richest man, 53, as his “American friend” amid a row over the Trump ally’s attacks on Sir Keir Starmer and senior officials. Labor ministers.
Farage used an appearance on Sunday’s BBC show with Laura Kuenssberg to say Musk was an outspoken supporter of “freedom of expression,” after calling minister Jess Phillips an “apologist for rape genocide” and ” evil witch.”
Musk, who will have an unofficial role in the new Trump administration, also accused the prime minister of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” in a social media row over sexual abuse by gangs of British Asian men in cities. from the north of England.
He has been linked with a $100 million donation to Reform, but Farage downplayed the likelihood the donation was that large.
The reformist leader told the BBC: It is very possible that he will give us money.
“Whether you do it or not, I think what it offers us with a large number of young people is that it makes us look cool.”
Regarding Musk’s attack on Mrs. Phillips, he added: “Just because Musk supports me and supports reform doesn’t mean that, as two adults, we have to agree with everything the other says.”
The party leader, 60, praised the X owner and the world’s richest man, 53, as his “American friend” amid a row over the Trump ally’s attacks on Sir Keir Starmer and senior officials. Labor ministers.
The reformist leader told the BBC: “It is quite possible that he will give us money.” Whether he does it or not, I think what he brings to us with a large number of young people is that he makes us look cool.’ Farage is pictured with Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent Hunt on Boxing Day.
He added that Musk, the South African-born American businessman, had used “very harsh terms” but that “harsh things are said in public life.”
‘This man happens to be the richest man in the world, but equally, the fact that he bought Twitter now gives us a place where we can have a proper open debate about a lot of things… freedom of speech is back.
“We may find it offensive, but it’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”
Asked if he was reluctant to criticize the billionaire over the potential donation, Farage said: “I think I made it perfectly clear that I don’t agree with everything he stands for, but I do believe in freedom of speech.”
“I think he’s a hero, and I said that long before I was offered any potential money.”
Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, said some of Musk’s comments about Phillips were “not appropriate” but he was right to raise the issue of grooming gangs.
“I think some of the specific language he used about Jess Phillips is inappropriate, but raising the issue as he has generally I think is reasonable because the system let vulnerable young girls down,” she told the BBC.
Health Secretary Mr Streeting was asked what Mr Musk would say following his comments about Ms Phillips.
“It is a shameful smear of a great woman who has spent her life supporting victims of the kind of violence that Elon Musk and others claim to be against,” she told the BBC on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
“And it’s all very well sitting there, and I’m not just talking about Musk, I’m talking about armchair critics on social media, it’s very easy to sit there and hastily shoot something and click send, when people like “Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips have done the hard work of locking up wife beaters, rapists and pedophiles.”
He said the government’s best response to Musk was to focus on “addressing the problem, not talking about it.”
Streeting added that if Musk wants to “roll up his sleeves and do something to address violence against women and girls,” platforms like X can help authorities clamp down on people trying to recruit children online.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also defended the Safeguarding Minister, describing her as a “fearless and formidable” advocate for victims of sexual abuse who has “campaigned tirelessly” for justice for those let down by institutional failure.