Farage and Musk clash over support for Tommy Robinson

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Sunday, January 5th, 2025

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Sources BBC News

Elon Musk’s recent support for far-right activist Tommy Robinson has sparked a rare disagreement with Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to demand Robinson’s release, stating: “Free Tommy Robinson now.” Farage, however, distanced himself from Musk’s stance, stating, “Elon is a remarkable individual, but on this, I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform, and I never sell out my principles.”

The rift comes as Farage seeks to leverage Musk’s support to boost Reform UK’s profile. Musk has been vocal in his admiration for Farage and recently criticized UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over handling grooming gang inquiries. Musk accused Starmer of failing to prosecute such cases adequately during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions.

In December, Farage and Reform’s treasurer, Nick Candy, met Musk at Mar-a-Lago, reportedly opening discussions on potential financial support for the party. Speculation around Musk’s possible $100 million donation was dismissed by Farage as “for the birds.”

Despite their differences, Farage acknowledged Musk’s contributions to Reform UK’s growing popularity, calling him a “hero” who makes the party “look cool.” The disagreement over Robinson raises questions about the long-term alignment between the two figures, especially as Farage continues to cultivate ties with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

This controversy coincides with renewed calls for a national inquiry into historical grooming gang cases, which the UK government has thus far declined. Musk criticized Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, accusing her of being a “rape genocide apologist.”

The divide between Musk and Farage underscores the complexities of aligning free speech advocacy with sensitive political issues.