Nigel Farage has criticised Elon Musk after the tech billionaire backed Rupert Lowe's Restore UK party in the upcoming Makerfield by-election. The Reform UK leader warned that Musk's intervention risks splitting the right-wing vote, potentially benefiting Labour.
Restore UK, founded by Lowe after his suspension from Reform UK last year, has fielded a candidate in the by-election. A Survation poll of 369 likely voters shows Labour's Andy Burnham on 43 points, Reform's Robert Kenyon on 40, and Restore UK on 7, with Liberal Democrats at 4 and the Greens at 3.
Musk posted 'Restore Britain' in response to a message from Lowe and an interview with Reform's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick. Farage told the Telegraph that Musk is trying to 'split the right of British politics' and dismissed Restore as 'one man with a social media account'.
Lowe responded, accusing Farage of being 'arrogant' and insisting that 'millions of Brits are with us'. He denied allegations of threatening former Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, which led to his suspension; the Crown Prosecution Service later confirmed no charges would be brought.
