Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, addressed the growing momentum of his party and the controversy sparked by Elon Musk’s recent comments on grooming gangs and British leadership. Speaking at the East Midlands conference in Leicester, Farage made it clear where he stands on the issues and how his party intends to proceed.
Musk recently criticized the UK government’s handling of grooming gangs and appeared to back far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Farage responded by emphasizing the need for accountability but unequivocally distanced himself and his party from Robinson.
- “Robinson has been to prison many, many times for many, many things,” Farage stated. “He’s not what we need. We are a political party aiming to win the next general election.”
While Farage praised Musk as a valuable ally in terms of strategic advice and inspiration, he was careful to separate Reform UK’s goals from Musk’s more controversial remarks. “Musk is helping us because he has given us an understanding of how they did it in America,” Farage explained, referencing Musk’s work with the Republican ground game. “That’s very useful to us.”
However, Farage doubled down on the need for a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandals, citing public outrage and systemic failures. “I want a full public inquiry with the glare of publicity,” Farage demanded. “People need to understand the extent of what went wrong in so many towns and cities across our country.”
The grooming gang issue has remained a hot-button topic in recent weeks, fueled by resurfaced court transcripts and renewed calls for justice. Farage criticized the leadership of both Labour and the Conservatives, accusing them of ignoring the problem.
“There’s little to choose between Labour and the Conservatives,” Farage remarked. “It’s a uniparty. They’ve failed the British people on this.”
Farage’s comments come as Reform UK experiences significant growth, with the party now boasting over 165,000 members. Farage described the recent surge in support as a sign of public frustration with the mainstream parties. “We are the conversation being had by millions of people up and down the country,” he said confidently.
When pressed about Musk’s endorsement of Robinson, Farage sidestepped any direct criticism of Musk, saying, “Different human beings have different points of view on different things. That’s fine. I’m relaxed about it.”
Farage’s calculated remarks suggest Reform UK is focused on leveraging public dissatisfaction while carefully avoiding associations that could alienate voters. With momentum on their side, the party is positioning itself as a serious contender in upcoming elections, offering what Farage calls a necessary alternative to the current political status quo.
