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 entrepeneur 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 created Reform UK in 2018, when it was called the Brexit Party, and returned as the party’s leader before being elected MP in 2024.