Nigel Farage has criticised Elon Musk after the tech billionaire expressed support for Restore UK, a right-wing challenger to Reform UK, in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. Musk reposted a message from Restore founder Rupert Lowe with the comment “Restore Britain” and also posted the same phrase in response to an interview with Reform’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick.
Farage warned that Musk’s intervention would “split the right” and said Labour’s Andy Burnham would be “delighted” by the development. He told The Telegraph: “Elon Musk has decided he will try to split the right of British politics as best he can. This is supporting a party that’s one man with a social media account. Quite what he’s trying to achieve, I have no idea.”
A Survation poll of 369 likely voters in Makerfield puts Burnham narrowly ahead with 43 points, while Reform’s Robert Kenyon trails on 40 points. Restore Britain has seven points, potentially splitting the right-wing vote and aiding Burnham. The Liberal Democrats are on 4 per cent, and the Green candidate, who has since withdrawn, was on 3 per cent.
Lowe founded Restore after being suspended from Reform UK last year amid allegations he threatened then-party chairman Zia Yusuf. He denied the claims, and the Crown Prosecution Service said no charges would be brought. Responding to Farage, Lowe said: “Farage can arrogantly insult me over and over, but he has never been more wrong.”
