Nigel Farage has found himself at the centre of a political rebellion just days after tech mogul Elon Musk suggested he wasn’t “up to the job” of leading Reform UK.
Musk vs Farage: The Feud That Sparked a Crisis
It all began when Musk criticised Farage on X, saying the former Brexit leader wasn’t fit to head the party. The two also clashed over Farage’s refusal to consider bringing far-right figure Tommy Robinson into Reform UK, a decision Musk reportedly disagreed with.
Now, twelve Reform UK councillors are preparing to resign in protest, with some calling Farage’s leadership “disloyal” and “autocratic.” The group, which holds various district, town, and parish council seats, is expected to make their move official as early as tonight.
A Leadership in Question
The departing councillors issued a scathing statement, claiming:
“We believe that the current party management is either incompetent or malevolent, and we have lost all confidence in the leadership and its structures.”
They are pushing for Ben Habib, the party’s former deputy leader, to take the reins, arguing that he better represents Reform UK’s vision and values.
Farage Responds: “I’m Not Going to War With Musk”
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Farage brushed off Musk’s critique, insisting he had no intention of falling out with the billionaire.
“I’m a huge admirer of Elon Musk. His purchase of Twitter brought a lot of free speech back. I’ve no desire to go to war with him.”
But Farage stood firm on his stance against extremism, stating,
“I’ve never wanted my parties to have anything to do with extremism.”
Farage also revealed plans to travel to the United States later this month to attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, during which he hopes to meet Musk and mend fences.
A Rocky Relationship
Farage and Musk’s relationship has seen its ups and downs. Just last Christmas, Musk was reportedly considering a $100 million donation to Reform UK through Tesla’s UK branch. The pair even posed together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
Farage acknowledged the strain but expressed optimism about reconciliation:
“Of course I want his support. I’m sure we can fix any broken fences that might exist.”
What’s Next for Reform UK?
With a dozen councillors walking out and Musk’s shadow looming large, Farage’s leadership faces its toughest test yet. As Reform UK grapples with internal strife, all eyes will be on Farage’s US trip and whether he can smooth things over with Musk—or if this rift will mark the start of a deeper crisis.
You may also like: Ian Hislop vs Elon Musk: A takedown for the ages
