The Daily Populous Monday January 6th, 2025 day edition
Authored by thetimes.com and submitted by TimesandSundayTimes

Elon Musk has said that Nigel Farage should be replaced as the leader of Reform UK because he “doesn’t have what it takes” in a dramatic collapse of their relationship.

The leader of Reform UK met Musk at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in December and they discussed a sizeable donation to Farage’s party.

However, the two men have disagreed over the past week after Musk called for Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League, to be released from prison. Robinson is in jail for contempt of court.

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is serving an 18-month prison sentence ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Farage said that he did not want Robinson to join Reform UK because of his extreme views, describing him as a “serial criminal”.

Musk said on X on Sunday: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”

_Lil_Cranky_ on January 5th, 2025 at 17:18 UTC »

This guy really does not understand British politics. He's deeply unpopular over here, and the kind of rhetoric that's admired by the US right wing does not work in the UK. He can't straddle both worlds. If he creates a persona that endears him to the MAGA base, he'll become toxic in the UK (this has kinda already happened). If he creates a persona that allows him to gain influence in UK politics, the MAGAs will disown him.

I'm pretty happy to watch these guys fight among themselves, though. Farage is already trying to distance himself from Musk. Trump will only have so much patience for Elon stealing the headlines. You don't upstage the boss. The more that the Trump administration is mired in petty infighting and egotism, the less damage they can do to the world. Keep it up, lads.

The_Milkman on January 5th, 2025 at 17:17 UTC »

This shows to me that Elon Musk has no real interest in getting involved in British politics and really just wants to stir stuff up on the far right for whatever reason. Farage has proven himself to be a practical politician and, while some might find him vile, there are many more vile people than him if you look at the people who took over UKIP after he left.

At any rate, there is not generally much hope for any third party becoming successful in Britain due to the way elections work. After the Brexit vote, any party that Farage is the leader of is basically just a way for him to grift.

Ok-Juxer on January 5th, 2025 at 16:47 UTC »

If he were just a private citizen it was different but he has been appointed to some committee by Trump no? I am not American so please enlighten me. If he is in such a position than wouldn't this be considered foreign interference?