Nigel Farage and Elon Musk seemed to be best buddies when they posed for this photo (Image: PA)
Make no bones about it, Reform UK is
No matter which pals I chat to, they’re all jealously eyeing up the passion and – and their wavering support oscillates between whoever has the most strident message on what many deem the UK’s biggest issue: migration.
Small c however – who both parties are obviously desperate for the backing of – are by their very nature cautious beings. They’re not so daft as to properly jump ship now. They’ll be no kneejerk reaction. They are watching, waiting and most definitely taking note.
That’s why the apparent bust up between Tesla billionaire and Farage is of significance in this Reform vs Conservative battle for hearts and minds.
Musk – like millions across the country – is absolutely enraged at Labour blocking a national inquiry into the evil that saw thousands of girls abused and raped at the hands of grooming gangs, the majority of which were made up of British Pakistani men.
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Mieka Smiles says Nigel Farage has done the right thing (Image: Getty)
This is entirely understandable. And I wholeheartedly agree with his fury.
But his intervention into UK politics has now started looking a bit unhinged as he demands recently elected PM is put behind bars and he becomes an out and out fan boy of far-right thug Tommy Robinson.
Musk said on his own social media platform X that Robinson was “telling the truth” about grooming gangs adding “Free Tommy Robinson” for good measure.
Farage had, of course, been getting on famously with Musk… up until that point. The bromance has now, it seems, come to a swift and bitter end after Farage had the nerve to calmly call him out on his support of Robinson.
Musk, said Farage carefully, sees Robinson as someone “that fought against the grooming gangs.” He didn’t stop there though – then reminding everyone Robinson isn’t in prison for campaigning against the gangs but for contempt of court. Farage added that his party is “aiming to win the next general election” and association with Robinson is “not what we need.”
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Rather than doing the sensible thing and agreeing to disagree on Robinson it was toys out of pram time for an increasingly juvenile Musk who said Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party.
Many might think that the friendship coming to an abrupt halt is a big blow to Farage. Gone – you would think – is the possibility of that rumoured £100m donation to his party from Musk. Gone is the chance of a powerful Trump triumvirate, including him and the tech tycoon.
Far from feeling like he’s messed up his chances, however, I actually think how Nigel has behaved is far from foolish and has actually stood him in great stead.
Firstly, the British public are not fools and do not like being dictated to – least of all by a foreign billionaire who seems to be sticking his nose in.
It’s about more than that, though.
I believe that Nigel’s innate penchant for populism actually turns off vast swathes of the quiet majority from making that leap to Reform. Any sensible person knows that just saying stuff for clout is a dangerous path to tread and a sin Mr Farage is occasionally eye-rollingly guilty of.
To really cut through, though, you mustn’t just latch onto any old thing that’s going to win you new followers. Authenticity is now what wins the day. People don’t want waverers, they want politicians who are who they say and resolutely stick to their principles, no matter what the cost.
Those sat in the middle ground will have most definitely taken note and many will have quietly applauded Nigel for showing some integrity. And I think far from looking like a loser, it will win him new respect and perhaps even ensure a slightly different type of follower.