Elon Musk slams Nigel Farage, saying he “doesn’t have what it takes” and should be removed from the leadership of Reform Britain.

Elon Musk sensationally slammed Nigel Farage today, saying he “doesn’t have what it takes” and should be removed from the Reform UK leadership.

The X owner and the world’s richest man has lashed out at his alleged allies on social media platforms after spending the past week intervening in British politics over sexual abuse gangs.

Mr Farage this morning called Mr Musk a “friend of the American people” and refused to criticize him for his comments about Sir Keir Starmer and senior cabinet ministers, which have been branded inflammatory.

The billionaire accused the Prime Minister of being complicit in sexual assaults by British Asian men when he was Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Farage used a BBC interview to make his case against Mr Musk. Support for Reform UK makes the party look ‘cool’ and helps attract younger supporters.

But at a reform rally in Leicester on Friday, Mr Musk distanced himself from his support for jailed English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson.

In a shocking blow to Reform supporters, Musk, a close associate and confidant of President-elect Donald Trump, wrote, “The Reform Party needs new leadership.” Farage doesn’t have what it takes. ”

This came just weeks after the two met at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to discuss contributing up to $100 million to the reform effort.

The Conservative Party quickly stepped in to compound Mr Farage’s misery. Huntingdon MP Ben Obise Jekuti tweeted: “Will you stand by Nigel?” I have heard that Rupert (Lowe, Member for Reform) is prepared to take your place. ”

And Andrew Lewin, Labor MP for Welwyn Hatfield, added: “Oh Nigel, you should never meet your hero.”

Tesla and X owners held a meeting last month, which was also attended by reform treasurer Nick Candy, which Mr Farage described as “historic”.

Mr Farage was also keen to promote himself as a fixer to new US ambassador Peter Mandelson, and was even touted himself as an outside choice for the role of senior diplomat.

But on Friday, he distanced his party from Mr. Robinson, who has been serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court since October.

“Free Tommy Robinson,” Musk wrote on his social media website X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

And the next day, Mr Farage told GB News: “He is very supportive of me, he is very supportive of the party.

“He sees Robinson as one of those who fought against grooming gangs. But of course the truth is, that’s not what Tommy Robinson was jailed for, it’s for contempt of court.”

Asked whether Reform UK would accept support from Mr Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) in the future, Mr Farage said: “We are a party that aims to win the next general election.” He’s not the person we need. ”

Musk has also expressed support for Germany’s far-right party Alternative far Deutschland (AfD).

Nevertheless, Mr Farage today praised the 53-year-old owner of X and the world’s richest man as a “friend of the American people” amid a series of attacks by Trump allies on Sir Keir Starmer and senior Labor ministers. did.

After branding Minister Jess Phillips an “apologist for rape and genocide” and a “wicked witch”, Mr Farage used his appearance on the BBC Sunday show with Laura Kuenssberg to criticize Mr Musk for “speech”. He stated that he openly supports the freedom of the people.

Mr Musk, who plays an unofficial role in the new Trump administration, also spoke out about the ongoing social media controversy over the gang sexual abuse of British Asian men in a northern town, with the prime minister saying, “I’m complicit,” he said.

Mr Farage is said to have been involved in donating $100 million to the reform effort, but downplayed the possibility that the donation would be that large.

A reform leader told the BBC: “He might give us money.

“Whether he does it or not, I think what he gives us with a bunch of young guys is going to make us look cool.”

Regarding Musk’s attack on Phillips, he added: “The fact that Musk supports me and supports reform doesn’t mean that we, as two adults, have to agree with everything the other person says.”

He said Musk, a South African-born American businessman, had used “very harsh words,” but added that “harsh things are said in public.”

“This guy happens to be the richest guy in the world, but similarly, the fact that he bought Twitter has actually given us a place where we can have a properly open discussion about a lot of things. …Free speech is back.”

“It may make you uncomfortable, but that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”

Asked if he was comfortable criticizing the billionaire because of his potential donations, Mr Farage said: “It’s perfectly clear that I don’t agree with everything he stands for. “I believe in free speech,” he said.

“I consider him a hero. I said that long before the money was offered.”

Chris Philip, the Conservative shadow home secretary, said some of Mr Musk’s comments about Mr Phillips were “not appropriate” but he was right to raise the issue of gang raids.

“I don’t think some of the specific words he used in relation to Jess Phillips were appropriate, but I think it’s important to understand that vulnerable young girls have been let down by the system, as he has generally done. “I think it’s reasonable to raise that,” he told the BBC.

Health Secretary Streeting was asked what he would say to Mr Musk following his comments about Mr Phillips.

“This is a shameful denigration 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,” he told BBC News with Laura Kuenssberg. He spoke on the Sunday program.

“And sitting there is all very well, and I’m not just talking about masks – I’m talking about armchair critics on social media – people sitting there whenever they want. Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips do the hard work of actually locking up wife beaters, rapists and pedophiles. went.”

He said the government’s best response to Mr. Musk was to focus on “addressing the problem, not talking about it.”

Streeting said that if Musk “really wants to do something to combat violence against women and girls,” platforms like X will help law enforcement try to groom children online. It could help police people, he added.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also been a “fearless and formidable” advocate for victims of sexual abuse and has campaigned “vigorously” for justice for those let down by institutional failures. The Minister of Protection defended her.