UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Nigel Farage distances himself from Elon Musk’s support for jailed Tommy Robinson, despite Musk’s influence and financial support for Reform UK.
The tech mogul Elon Musk, who has expressed support for the Reform UK party and is reportedly considering a big donation, has been a strong critic of the government’s response to handling child sexual abuse incidents from more than ten years ago.
As reported by Sky News, the Reform UK leader praised the billionaire owner of X as an “absolute hero” to young people but made it clear that he and his party disassociated with Tommy Robinson, who is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court orders.
Mr Musk, a close ally of the newly elected president, backed Tommy Robinson. He insisted Robinson spoke the truth about grooming gangs and urged his release on X with the message “Free Tommy Robinson.”
During his speech at Reform’s East Midlands conference, the party leader endorsed Elon Musk’s strategy for Trump’s administration as the model UK’s needs, stating for a radical transformation in the country’s cultural landscape.
Mr Nigel stated, “I am very pleased he’s backing our party, even if reports of his potential financial donations are somewhat overexaggerated. Whether we like everything he says or not, he’s a hero.”
He added that people keep asking about Tommy Robinson. I’ve made my views clear, and I didn’t want him in UKIP and Reform UK; that won’t change.
While speaking on GB News, Mr Farage mentioned that Mr Musk considers Robinson one of those who opposed grooming gangs.
He stated, “We’re a political party aiming to win the next general election. [Robinson] is not what we need.”
The tech billionaire said on Thursday that “Britain needs Reform now,” as rumours spread he’s planning to donate up to $100m to the Reform UK party.
He started an online campaign against the Labour government when it was disclosed that Jess Phillips, the Home Office Minister, had rejected Oldham Council’s request to conduct a public investigation into child abuse, a move previously taken by the Tory in 2022.
Ms Phillip wrote in a letter to the Greater Manchester officials that she believes it’s Oldham Council’s responsibility to decide on an investigation about child sexual violence, not the government’s.
A spokesperson for Oldham Council stated they will always put survivors first in the fight to stop child sexual abuse and will not go back on that promise, no matter what happens with future investigations.
On X, Mr Musk accused Sir Keir Starmer several times of not prosecuting “rape gangs” while leading CPS. In 2013, the Labour leader established updated protocols for handling child abuse cases in court.
Mr Nigel insisted Reform UK would target Kemi Bafenoch’s seat in the upcoming general election, criticising her refusal to retract her allegations about the party’s membership figures.
Last month, the Conservative leader had accused Farage of “fakery” after he claimed that Reform UK’s members had exceeded the 131,680 numbers reported by the Tory in the previous year.
The Reform UK leader stated that his party has nearly 400 members in Kemi Badenoch’s North West Essex seat and will be working to gather more support at a conference later this month.
The Tory leader Badenich argued that the member’s number displayed on the Reform UK websites was using an online system that automatically increases the number, adding this kind of deception is quickly exposed.
Health Secretary, Wes Streeting criticized Musk’s attack on Labour’s government regarding the handling of grooming gangs, labelling it wrong and inaccurate.
He stated Labour’s government is fully committed to tackling child abuse cases.