Farage hits out at Elon Musk for backing Rupert Lowe’s Restore UK in Makerfield by-election

Nigel Farage has hit out at Elon Musk for backing Restore Britain in the upcoming Makerfield by-election in a post on his social media platform, X.

The Reform leader is evidently furious about Musk throwing his support behind Rupert Lowe’s hard-right party Restore Britain, and has accused him of splitting the right-wing vote. 

Posting on X on Sunday, Musk shared a tweet from Lowe about the by-election with the comment: “Restore Britain.”

In the post shared by Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth claimed that Restore Britain was “under brutal assault” by the establishment who “want us gone”.

Musk previously voiced support for Farage and Reform UK, but in January last year, said he didn’t think Farage had what it took to lead the party.

This came after Farage distanced himself from Musk’s comments voicing support for far-right agitator Tommy Robinson. 

Speaking to the Telegraph, Farage hit out at the world’s richest man for backing Restore Britain, as Reform begins to panic about support for Lowe’s party in Makerfield. 

Farage said: “Elon Musk has decided he will try to split the Right of British politics as best he can.”

Speaking about Musk’s support for Rupert Lowe, he said: “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.”

The first Makerfield by-election poll has put support for Labour at 43%, with Reform slightly behind on 40%. 

The Survation poll put support for Restore Britain at 7%, suggesting that the hard-right party could chip away at some of Reform’s support.

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward