What was shaping up to be the greatest transatlantic political bromance since the 1990s love-in between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton came to a dramatic end on Sunday afternoon.
When Nigel Farage rejected Elon Musk’s suggestion that he should bring far-right activist Tommy Robinson into his party, Reform UK not only lost a powerful supporter, it also potentially lost the richest donor in UK political history.
Close allies of the Reform leader insist he is prepared to walk away from a reported $100m (£80m) donation after the world’s wealthiest man told his 211 million followers on X that the party “needs a new leader” and “doesn’t have what it takes”.
Ann Widdecombe, the former Tory minister who joined Reform in 2019, told The i Paper: “Nigel has shown he won’t sell out his principles and is prepared to wave goodbye to Musk’s millions rather than give in to him.”
Gawain Towler, Farage’s former spin doctor and friend of more than 20 years, added: “He’s shown that his principles cannot be bought.”
While also attacking the Labour government over its rejection of a public inquiry into the failings over the grooming gangs scandal in towns including Oldham and Rotherham, Musk has continued with his demands for change at the top of Reform.
On Sunday evening, the billionaire appeared to give his backing to Reform MP Rupert Lowe to take over the top job.
Despite the continuing barrage from the owner of X, Tesla and Space X, there was a deafening silence from Farage and other leading figures in his party in the hours after the social media attack, which appeared to leave the party blindsided.
The i Paper made multiple attempts to contact Farage and there was no sign of any Reform MPs, or other party figures, defending their leader on the Monday morning breakfast shows.
Ben Habib, Reform’s former deputy leader, was one ex-colleague quick to offer criticism of Farage.
“I think what it revealed about Nigel, and what it revealed to Elon about Nigel, is Nigel’s lack of preparedness to actually move the Overton window,” he said referring to the accepted political narrative.
Habib, who quit the party last November, added: “In his pursuit of gaining the reins of office, Nigel seems to be tacking to the middle ground. It’s a very overcrowded middle ground already.”
However, senior figures insisted Farage has the full backing of the party’s MPs and grassroots members.
Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, told The i Paper: “Of course, I 100 per cent agree with Nigel’s response [to Musk] and given that I stood aside for Nigel, no one is more supportive of him than me.
“Mr Musk is the most brilliant entrepreneur but life would be boring if we agreed on everything. On this we disagree.”
Asked if Farage will remain as leader of his party Lee Anderson delivered a typically brusque response: “Of course he will, yeah.”
Towler suggests the Reform leader doesn’t want to add fuel to the flames of the Musk row with him.
“Least said, soonest mended,” said Towler. “If you’re conducting megaphone diplomacy over X, that doesn’t seem the wisest way to perform.”
Despite being sacked by Farage as his head of communications last November – the third time Farage has fired him in their two decade on-off working relationship, Towley remains a fervent supporter of his old boss.
“Is it going to be uncomfortable for a few days? Yes. But, in two weeks’ time, Musk has got a sod of a big job to do when Trump becomes President. I think he’s a little bit bored right now and when he’s cutting waste in government in DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] this will probably all blow over.”
Widdecombe added: “From what I can see, Musk talked about Tommy Robinson, Nigel said no, and it’s sparked from there.”
As for Musk’s comments attacking Farage and backing the release of Robinson – a man he’s referred to as a “political prisoner” – Widdecome added: “Well, they’re completely ignorant. A bigger load of nonsense would be difficult to imagine.”
Grassroots Reform members, which the party claims have swelled from 50,000 to more than 175,000 since the general election, also said they are behind the man who led the party to win more than four million votes last July.
Robin Jackson, who stood as Reform’s candidate in Slough last summer, said: “Nigel Farage’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the Reform Party into a dynamic force for changing British politics.
“I believe Nigel is the best person to lead us forward. His vision, experience and ability to inspire grassroots activists is essential as we continue to build on our momentum.”
On Monday, Robinson’s official Twitter account, which is being run by the “admin” while he’s behind bars, called on Habib to become the party’s leader. Habib pointed out that was impossible while Farage continues to run the party as a business, in which he has the controlling stake.
“Elon Musk claimed that Tommy Robinson was a political prisoner,” said Habib. “Nigel responded that he wasn’t, and that he was rightly in jail for contempt of court. I think Elon was right and Nigel was wrong.
So, when will we hear from Farage on his thoughts about Musk’s attacks on his leadership?
One close friend of the Reform leader from within the party suggests he may wait until his GB News show on Tuesday evening.
If you don’t want to watch that then you are sure to be able to see it on X, as well as Musk’s inevitable response.
