Elon Musk backs Ben Habib’s new advance UK after blasting Nigel Farage as “weak sauce”

Elon Musk has sparked fresh political chaos in Britain after urging Nigel Farage’s former deputy to launch a rival party and publicly branding the Reform UK leader as “weak sauce.”

Ben Habib, once co-deputy leader of Reform UK, revealed that the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire personally encouraged him to set up a new movement in January, during heated disagreements between Musk and Farage. The row centred on Farage’s refusal to endorse far-right activist Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

According to Habib, the fallout marked a turning point. What began as admiration between Farage and Musk rapidly soured, ending with the billionaire calling for Farage to be replaced. In a scathing post on X, formerly Twitter, Musk declared:

“Advance UK will actually drive change. Farage is weak sauce who will do nothing.”

The remarks detonated across Westminster and social media, underscoring Musk’s growing willingness to intervene in British politics.

Habib confirmed to The Telegraph that the suggestion to form Advance UK came directly from Musk. “It was Musk actually that suggested to me in January to set up a new political party,” he said. The pair are understood to maintain regular contact via X, holding both private calls and ongoing discussions.

Speaking of their alignment, Habib explained:

“What we discussed was the threat facing Western civilisation from the way we’re being governed. Mass migration, net zero, no borders, DEI, progressive discrimination, all that kind of thing. We had a philosophical alignment of thinking, and the need to deregulate power, our economies, etc.”

Advance UK has grown rapidly since its inception. Habib claimed more than 22,000 people have already joined the fledgling movement within nine weeks. At 30,000 members, he said, it would be formally registered as a political party. The organisation has also unveiled a unique internal structure: a “college” of independent experts who elect and can remove the leader via a no-confidence vote, while also contributing to policy development. Among the recruits are former X Factor contestant Katie Waissel and Howard Cox, previously Reform’s candidate for London mayor.

Musk’s involvement adds a combustible element to the British political scene. Earlier this year, he began tweeting about the grooming gangs scandal, alleging a state cover-up. On Tuesday, he pledged to help fund legal action against “corrupt officials” who, he claimed, concealed the crimes.

The collapse of his relationship with Farage contrasts sharply with their warm encounter at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last December. At that time, Farage had hailed Musk as a “hero,” and rumours swirled that Musk might donate up to $100 million (£80m) to Reform UK—a claim Farage denied.

By January, however, Musk had publicly turned, urging that Farage be replaced as leader of Reform UK. The breaking point came after Farage distanced himself from Musk’s support for Robinson, sparking fury among the billionaire’s growing online following.

Since then, Musk and Habib have struck an increasingly close alliance. Habib said both men were “exasperated” by Farage’s most recent speech on migration, describing Reform’s leader as inconsistent.

“We’re completely on the same page that Reform is not the answer. Farage pivots from one day to the next,” Habib claimed.

Farage, meanwhile, attempted to reassert his grip on the immigration debate, pledging this week to deport up to 600,000 illegal migrants in his first term if Reform took power. He also promised to build capacity to detain 24,000 migrants in remote areas within 18 months.

Musk responded by amplifying a post from Robinson urging Rupert Lowe to join Advance UK—though Habib insisted Robinson has no role in the party beyond being a member.

With Farage under fire, Habib emboldened, and Musk’s influence looming ever larger, Britain’s right-wing politics faces a period of bitter rivalry and open fragmentation. Advance UK is not yet officially registered, but with Musk’s backing and swelling membership, the party threatens to become a disruptive new force in the battle for Britain’s political right.