Nigel Farage has broken his silence after Elon Musk made a surprise demand, calling for the Reform UK leader to be replaced.
In a furious spat on Twitter, Musk claimed the Clacton MP “doesn't have what it takes” after ruling out allowing Tommy Robinson to join his party.
He wrote: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”
Now in an update, released just before 3pm, Farage appeared to be “surprised” by Musk’s outburst.
“Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree,” he said.
“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”
Ahead of Reform’s east Midlands conference on Friday, Farage categorically ruled out allowing Robinson to join his party and said he will continue to work with Elon Musk despite the billionaire’s comments about Robinson, adding: “If he can help us financially that would be fantastic.”
Robinson was jailed for 18 months after admitting two charges of contempt of court by repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee on several platforms.
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Pressure has been growing on Farage over Robinson after Musk tweeted on X his support this week for the campaign to “free Tommy Robinson”.
However, asked by GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope if he would “accept Robinson as a member of your party”, Farage replied: “No.”
He continued: “Robinson has been to prison many, many times for many, many things.”
He added: “He's got his own campaign. We are a political party aiming to win the next general election. He's not what we need.”
Asked about Musk's comments on Robinson, he said: “He's attacking the leadership of Britain. He's saying Britain's been terribly badly led and that the grooming scandal, the mass rape scandal which has resurfaced and transcripts of what was said in court have been online. And I recommend you at home. Don't read them. You won't sleep at night.
“So, yes, he is attacking the leadership in Britain. He's very supportive of me. He's very supportive of the party. He sees Robinson as one of these people that fought against the grooming gangs.
“But of course, the truth is Tommy Robinson is in prison. Not for that, but for contempt of court for the third occasion.
“Equally, there are people in Britain who think that Robinson is a political prisoner. That's the narrative that he's pushed out. That's how he earns his living. But it isn't quite true.”
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