Elon Musk and Rupert Lowe’s Discontent with Nigel Farage
It appears that Elon Musk and Rupert Lowe have begun to lose their faith in Nigel Farage, who has often been viewed as a political powerhouse. Back in January, Musk, the billionaire known for his support of Donald Trump, expressed skepticism about Farage’s capabilities, instead favoring Lowe, the Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth. Now, Lowe has taken a bold stance, indicating that it’s too soon to determine whether Farage can deliver on his promises.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lowe described Farage as a “fiercely independent individual” with “messianic qualities,” but questioned whether these traits translate into effective leadership. Farage, in response during a segment on TalkTV, dismissed Lowe’s comments, declaring him “utterly, completely wrong.”
However, the situation took a dramatic turn last Friday evening when Reform UK’s chief whip, Lee Anderson, and party chairman, Zia Yusuf, announced the appointment of a KC to investigate allegations of workplace bullying against Lowe. The accusations include targeting women and making derogatory remarks, including references to perceived disabilities. Lowe has chosen not to cooperate with the investigation and has been suspended from the party while the matter has been reported to the police.
Yet, Farage has more pressing issues to contend with than internal dissent within his small parliamentary party. The actions of former President Donald J. Trump are creating turbulence, potentially undermining Farage’s political ambitions and those of his party.
Recent polling from More in Common indicates that half of the British population believes Farage is “in Trump’s pocket.” This perception is particularly problematic for Farage given the growing fears among the public that Trump may be too closely aligned with Vladimir Putin, especially as he undermines Ukraine and NATO’s commitment to defend member states in times of conflict.
Following last week’s controversial Oval Office meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, a staggering 80% of people in Britain now view Trump negatively, according to YouGov, with even a majority of Reform supporters (53%) sharing this sentiment. Additionally, a recent YouGov poll shows Farage’s popularity has declined since February, dropping from a 30% favorability rating to just 26%. Alarmingly, 65% of respondents express disapproval of him, making him the most unpopular leader of a major party in the UK, with a net score of -39 compared to Kemi Badenoch (-30), Keir Starmer (-28), and Ed Davey (-6).
The Prime Minister’s adept handling of Ukraine-US relations seems to be benefiting his party, while Labour appears to be gaining traction in the polls, surpassing Reform UK with 28% to Reform’s 25%, as the Conservative Party lags behind at 21%. Public opinion is decidedly in favor of Zelensky after his treatment in the White House, and Farage’s comments suggesting that Zelensky was “rude” and “should have thought about wearing a suit” are being met with widespread disapproval.
- The only American leader perhaps more disliked in Britain is Vice President JD Vance. When Vance made disparaging remarks about British troops, Conservative leader Badenoch responded by asserting, “I know JD Vance quite well.” Like Farage, she seems entrenched in the Trumpist camp, which may explain why the Tories aren’t improving their standing with the public.
- Labour is capitalizing on Reform’s perceived “softness” regarding Trump and Ukraine, knowing that many voters, including those in the Red Wall constituencies, agree with their stance.
- Both Reform and the Conservatives risk splitting the dwindling right-wing vote if they continue to align themselves with Trump, making a Labour victory—potentially with a lower base of support—more likely in the next election.
Farage’s prior admiration for both Trump and Putin, along with his attempts to downplay Nazi salutes by MAGA leaders, pose significant liabilities, yet he remains charismatic enough to mitigate such gaffes. This week, The i Paper reported that Farage has earned over £654,000 from non-parliamentary work since his election as an MP last July, primarily through GB News and speaking engagements. Interestingly, his constituents in Clacton appear largely unfazed by this, as his primary value lies in his ability to galvanize national campaigns and boost party membership.
Party activists, led by Yusuf, a multimillionaire, are striving to create a structure around Farage’s persona while also establishing a degree of separation from him. Rupert Lowe is advocating for a “proper plan” with frontbench spokespeople—a daunting task given that there are only five Reform MPs. Fueled by a semi-endorsement from Musk, Lowe has expressed ambitions of being featured among potential future prime ministers and has hinted that he “may not be by Nigel’s side” in the next election. Deputy leader Richard Tice remarked on BBC’s Question Time that “there is no harm in a bit of challenge” directed at Farage.
However, neither Tice nor Lowe possesses the charisma or communication skills that Farage commands. Tice struggled to respond when questioned about how much of Britain he would concede if it were invaded. Likewise, Lowe’s tone, which emphasizes the human cost of the conflict in Ukraine over the righteousness of the cause, is out of sync with public sentiment. Furthermore, his recent interactions with Liz Truss, who is embroiled in her own controversies, do little to bolster his standing.
Farage is correct in his assertion that Lowe would not have been elected without his backing. Nigel Farage embodies Reform UK; without him, the party risks losing its identity. Michael Crick’s captivating biography, aptly titled One Party After Another, illustrates that Farage has indeed played a prominent role in shaping the political landscape, and it would be political folly for his current allies to abandon him voluntarily.
Adam Boulton presents Sunday Morning on Times Radio
