Reform UK rocked as 12 councillors resign over Nigel Farage’s management after Elon Musk described politician as ‘lower than the job’
A dozen Reform UK councillors have reportedly given notice of their intention to resign in protest over Nigel Farage‘s leadership after Elon Musk described the politician as ‘not up to the job’.
The Reform UK leader lashed out at US politicians earlier in the week for supporting the ‘thuggish’ Tommy Robinson as he tried to mend his relationship with Musk.
Mr Musk on Sunday called for Mr Farage to be replaced as Reform leader, after he refused to follow the X owner and Donald Trump aide in calling for Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – to be freed.
Now, it has been revealed that resignations over Farage’s leadership could come as early as Friday evening, according to the Guardian.
Councillors have alleged that the party was being run in an ‘autocratic manner’ and accused Farage of ‘disloyalty’ to long-term members.
The 12 councillors – who collectively hold two district council seats, nine town council seats and five parish council seats – are all from Derbyshire and include Alex Stephenson, who came second in Amber Valley during the general election.
Farage claimed on Thursday, however, that the resignations were from an ‘out-of-control branch’ and involved a number of councillors who had failed Reform UK vetting.
He told the publication: ‘Alex Stephenson has been suspended from the party and the reason is that he was putting up candidates for parish council elections which were unvetted, which is against the rules. We have known this branch was out of control for some time.’
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage speaks at a conference in Esher on January 10
Mr Musk on Sunday called for Mr Farage to be replaced as Reform leader, after he refused to follow the X owner and Donald Trump aide in calling for Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – to be freed
Robinson is serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court over social media messages about a teenage migrant, which began in October
Zia Yusuf, chairman of Reform UK, also tweeted: ‘The leader of this group of “councillors” was suspended weeks ago by Reform for: 1) nominating candidates that failed vetting. 2) fraudulently nominating candidates with an invalid DNO certificate.
‘As a result of (2), several of these ‘councillors’ are illegitimate and new elections must be held.
‘Reform stands for the highest standards in public life, and those who commit fraud will always be expelled.’
American multi-billionaire Musk has spent the past week fixated on UK politics, specifically over British Asian sex abuse gangs in northern towns.
Speaking to LBC radio on January 7, Mr Farage said that while he wanted to ‘mend fences’ with Musk at Trump’s inauguration later this month, supporting Robinson was not going to happen.
‘Many of my American friends have seen one side of the Robinson story. He says he is in prison for exposing the grooming gangs and they go ”oh my goodness me, this is dreadful, he is a political prisoner”,’ he said.
‘The fact is he has been in prison many times over the years – three times for contempt of court – and once he almost brought down a trial at which gang rapists were ultimately convicted.
‘I am on a campaign in America at the moment to educate people as to just who Tommy Robinson really is.’
The Reform UK leader criticised rightwing Americans who believe the incarcerated former EDL leader is a ‘political prisoner’ and said he was trying to ‘educate’ them.
Asked whether losing his support would weaken Reform UK, he added: ‘Not having Elon’s support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I’m being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.’
Asked if the government agreed with Mr Farage the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘It is absolutely the case that, as the PM said, those who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in delivering justice for victims.
‘It is important that people know that he went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case, so people who are cheerleading his cause are acting actively against delivering for the victims that the PM is interested in delivering for.’
Speaking during the phone-in, the Reform leader said he would be in the United States ‘for a good sort of four or five days’ for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president.
‘I have no desire to go to war with Elon Musk and I’m not going to, and I haven’t done. I’m a huge admirer of him, I think he’s an heroic figure,’ Mr Farage said.
Asked whether losing his support would weaken Reform UK, he added: ‘Not having Elon’s support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I’m being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.’
He added: ‘It’s not crucial. I mean look, if I was to embrace, as it looks like I was being urged to do, the sort of violent thuggish people like (Tommy) Robinson, that would do our party immense harm, and probably rightly so.
‘So the fact that I’ve stood up on a point of principle, even if in the short term its to my detriment, in the long run may even work in our favour.
‘Of course I want his support, of course I will talk to him in America in a few days’ time, of course I want to mend any broken fences that might exist. I’m sure we can do it.’
