In a dramatic day of events, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk appears to have thrown his weight behind Rupert Lowe to replace Nigel Farage as leader of Reform UK, creating a dramatic news day.
The controversy erupted when Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), declared that Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party, marking an extraordinary reversal in their relationship. The tech mogul then appeared to endorse Lowe, the political novice Reform MP for Great Yarmouth and former Southampton FC chairman, as Farage’s replacement.
The timing of Musk’s intervention is particularly striking, coming just days after he had claimed that “only” Farage’s Reform UK could “save” Britain. The sudden about-face has sent shockwaves through British political circles, with speculation mounting about the reasons behind the split.
Farage, who returned to lead the party before winning his parliamentary seat in 2024, has described Musk’s comments as a “surprise” and suggested the apparent fallout was connected to disagreements over the jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Political analysts note that the timing couldn’t be more crucial for Reform UK, which has been gaining momentum in recent months. The party has been holding packed conferences across the country, with Lowe’s parliamentary experience and business background potentially offering a different kind of leadership from Farage’s populist style.
Sources close to the party suggest that Musk’s intervention could trigger a leadership contest, though no formal challenge has yet been made. The Tesla chief’s influence extends beyond mere social media support, as reports indicate he has been considering a donation of up to $100 million to the party.
Lowe himself has remained notably quiet on the matter, though he has been spending time engaging with Musk on the X platform, leading to speculation about potential behind-the-scenes discussions regarding the party’s future direction.
The situation continues to develop, with Reform UK members and supporters divided over this unexpected intervention from across the Atlantic. Whether Musk’s endorsement will help or hinder Lowe’s prospects remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: British politics has rarely seen such a direct intervention from a global tech leader in its internal party politics.
