Musk attacks Britain's Reform Party leader as' incompetent '

Elon Musk, a key adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump and the world's richest man, has attacked the British Labour government after suddenly turning to attack Farage, the leader of the British Reform Party, saying Farage is "not capable" of being the leader of the Reform Party.

The British government, increasingly feeling the upside-down politics of the coming Trump era, spent the weekend scrambling to respond to Musk's criticism of British political affairs, according to the BBC and Bloomberg. In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, Musk said Farage was "incapable" of leading the Reform Party, without offering any explanation.

It was a sudden U-turn for Mr Musk, who had praised Mr Farage, saying only the populist far-right Reform Party could "save" Britain. The two also recently met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, where Farage claimed Musk might donate to his party.

Musk's criticism of Farage came hours after Farage called Musk a "friend" during an interview on the BBC's Sunday program. A few weeks ago, it was reported that Musk was in talks to donate to the Reform Party.

Musk has attacked British Prime Minister Starmer and the Labour Party since the party came to power in July last year. On Sunday, he suddenly turned on Mr. Farage.

Farage expressed "surprise" at Musk's comments on the 5th, saying that Musk's support for British far-right activist Tommy Robinson caused a rift between the two.

"I would never sell out my principles," Farage said.

Last year, Robinson lost a 2021 defamation case in which he pleaded guilty in court to breaching an injunction banning him from repeating allegations he made against a Syrian refugee schoolboy. Musk recently called on Britain to release Robinson in X. Earlier, it was reported that senior Reform Party officials privately complained to the Trump team that Musk had "crossed the line" by publicly calling for Robinson's release.

Farage and Trump have been in close contact, and Musk has been appointed by Trump to a senior role in the new administration.

The question now is whether Farage's friendship with Trump will be affected by Musk.