Reform UK's Nigel Farage has criticised Elon Musk over his support for Restore Britain, warning the tech billionaire will “split the right” in the Makerfield by-election. The Tesla boss posted a series of messages backing Restore Britain on his social media platform X.
Farage warns of vote splitting
Labour’s Andy Burnham hopes to use the Makerfield contest to return to Westminster and potentially launch a bid to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Reform’s Robert Kenyon came second in the seat in 2024, and an opinion poll suggested Mr Burnham has a lead of just three percentage points over him. However, with Restore Britain’s candidate picking up support, Mr Farage said Mr Burnham would be “delighted” by Mr Musk’s intervention.
He told the Telegraph: “Elon Musk has decided he will try to split the right of British politics as best he can. This is supporting a party that’s one man with a social media account. Quite what he’s trying to achieve, I have no idea.”
Polling data and Lowe's response
The Survation study in Makerfield had a sample size of just 504 respondents, of whom 369 said they were likely to vote. It is the first survey of the constituency since the by-election was called, and the pollster said it should be treated as an “indicative early look”. The poll put Mr Burnham on 43%, Mr Kenyon on 40%, and Restore Britain’s Rebecca Shepherd on 7%.
Mr Lowe said: “Farage has just gone to the media to attack Restore Britain, again. He says that Elon Musk is supporting a party ‘that’s one man with a social media account’. This is where Farage is so very wrong.” He argued there were “millions of Brits who are with us” and that “Farage can arrogantly insult me over and over, but he has never been more wrong”.
Mr Lowe, who has a long-running feud with Mr Farage, added: “This party isn’t about me, it never has been. It is about our members, our people, our home. Not me. Them. That is something he will never understand, and ultimately it’s why he will lose.”
On Sunday, Mr Musk reposted a message from Mr Lowe with the comment “Restore Britain”. He also posted “Restore Britain” in response to an interview by Reform’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick.
