Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to replace him as leader of the Reform UK party, just weeks after it was claimed he was in talks to make a huge donation to the party.
In a post on his social media site X, Mr Musk said Mr Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party.
Mr Farage defended Mr Musk on Sunday, telling the BBC that “freedom of speech is back” after Mr Musk attacked the UK government’s response to gang raids.
Reform UK leaders have distanced themselves from Mr Musk’s support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who is serving a sentence in Britain for contempt of court.
Mr Farage founded Reform UK in 2018, at the time called the Brexit Party, and returned to lead it before being elected to parliament in 2024.
It is unclear what prompted Mr Musk to rebel against Mr Farage.
Appearing on BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Farage described Mr Musk as a “friend” and said he would “discuss various things with him” including Mr Robinson at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. That’s what he said.
Farage has maintained a close relationship with Trump, who has enlisted Musk as an adviser.
