Elon Musk turns on Nigel Farage saying he should be REMOVED as leader of Reform UK because he ‘doesn’t have what it takes’

Elon Musk today sensationally turned on Nigel Farage, saying he should be removed as leader of Britain’s reform movement because he ‘doesn’t have what it takes’.

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Mr Farage this morning called Musk his “American friend” and refused to criticize him over comments he made about Sir Keir Starmer and senior ministers, which were branded as inflammatory.

The billionaire accused the prime minister of being complicit in the sexual attacks by British-Asian men in his former role as director of public prosecutions.

Farage used a BBC interview to claim Musk’s support for Reform UK makes the party look ‘cool’ and helps attract younger supporters.

However, at a reform meeting in Leicester on Friday, he distanced himself from Musk’s support for jailed English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson.

In a stunning blow to his reform supporters, Musk, a close ally and aide to 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 amounting to $100 million.

The Tesla and X owner held a meeting that also included reform treasurer Nick Candy, which Mr Farage described as “historic”.

The party leader, 60, today hailed the X owner and the world’s richest man, 53, as his “American friend” amid the row over the Trump ally’s attacks on Sir Keir Starmer and senior Labor ministers.

Farage used an appearance on BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg to say Musk was an outspoken supporter of “freedom of speech” after branding minister Jess Phillips a “rape genocide apologist” and a “wicked witch”.

Musk, who will play an unofficial role in the new Trump administration, also accused the prime minister of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” in an ongoing social media discussion about sexual abuse by gangs of British Asian men in Northern English cities.

He has been linked to a $100 million donation to Reform, but Farage played down the likelihood of the payout being that large.

The reform leader told the BBC: ‘Maybe he’ll give us money.

“Whether he does that or not, I think what he’s giving us in large numbers of young people is making us look cool.”

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

The party leader, 60, hailed the X owner and the world’s richest man, 53, as his “American friend” amid the row over the Trump ally’s attacks on Sir Keir Starmer and senior Labor ministers.

The reform leader told the BBC: ‘He might give us money. “Whether he does that or not, I think what he’s giving us in large numbers of young people is making us look cool.” Farage is pictured with the 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 “tough things are said in public life.”

“This guy happens to be the richest man in the world, but the fact that he’s now bought Twitter actually gives us a place where we can have a really open debate about a lot of things. Freedom of expression is back.

“We may find it offensive, but it’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”

Asked whether he is reluctant to criticize the billionaire over the potential donation, Mr Farage said: ‘I think I’ve made it perfectly clear that I don’t agree with everything he stands for, but I do believe in the freedom of expression.

“I think he’s a hero, and I said that long before any money was offered.”

Chris Philp, the Tory shadow home secretary, said some of Musk’s comments about Ms 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 in the way he has generally done I think is reasonable because vulnerable young girls are being let down by the system were left,” he told the BBC.

Health Minister Mr Streeting was asked what he would tell Mr Musk following his comments about Ms Phillips.

“It is a shameful smear of an amazing woman who has spent her life supporting victims of the kind of violence that Elon Musk and others say they oppose,” he told the BBC with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday.

‘And it’s all very good to sit there, and I’m not just talking about Musk – I’m talking about armchair critics on social media – it’s all very easy to sit there and rush something off and hit send , if people like that Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips have done the hard work to actually lock 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.”

Mr. Streeting added that if Mr. Musk wants to “roll up his sleeves and actually do something to address violence against women and girls,” platforms like X can help law enforcement crack down on people trying to groom children online.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also defended the Security Secretary, 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 .