Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as leader of Reform UK, just weeks after it was claimed the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate a large sum to the party.

In a post on his social media site X, Musk said Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party.

Farage defended Musk to the BBC on Sunday, saying “free speech was back”, after the tech entrepreneur attacked the UK government’s response to grooming gangs.

The Reform UK leader has distanced himself from Musk’s support for Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist who is serving a jail term in the UK for contempt of court.

Farage founded Reform UK in 2018, then called the Brexit Party, and returned as the party’s leader before being elected as an MP in 2024.

It is unclear what has compelled Musk to turn on Farage.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage described Musk as a “friend” and said he planned to “have a conversation with him on a variety of things” – including Robinson – at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Farage has maintained close ties Trump, who has brought Musk on as an adviser.