The Musk Endorsement
On 14 February 2026, just one day after Rupert Lowe announced that Restore Britain would become a registered political party, Elon Musk — the world's richest person and owner of X (formerly Twitter) — posted his endorsement:
"Join Rupert Lowe in Restore Britain, because he is the only one who will actually do it!"
— Elon Musk, 14 February 2026
This endorsement from Musk — who has 200+ million followers on X — gave Lowe's new party an enormous boost in visibility and credibility among right-wing audiences globally.
Timeline: Musk and UK Right-Wing Politics
Early 2025: The Farage Fallout
Elon Musk's involvement in British politics began with his endorsement of Reform UKand leader Nigel Farage. However, in January 2025, a dramatic split occurred when Musk called for Farage to resign as party leader.
The dispute centred on imprisoned far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Musk had endorsed Robinson and funded his legal bills, but Farage rejected any association with Robinson, calling him "not right for Reform."
During this dispute, Musk praised Rupert Lowe as a potential alternative to Farage. At the time, Lowe thanked Musk but publicly reiterated his support for Farage.
March 2025: Lowe's Suspension
Shortly after the Musk-Farage dispute, Lowe was suspended from Reform UK amid allegations of threatening behaviour towards party chairman Zia Yusuf. He began sitting as an Independent MP.
June 2025: Restore Britain Movement
Lowe founded Restore Britain as a political movement and pressure group. Musk continued to engage with Lowe's content on X, amplifying his reach significantly.
February 2026: Party Launch & Musk Endorsement
When Lowe converted Restore Britain into a registered political party on 13 February 2026, Musk's endorsement the following day cemented the relationship. The party reportedly gained over 90,000 members within two weeks of launch — growth partly attributed to Musk's amplification.
The X Effect
Analysis by Sky News showed that when Elon Musk interacts with Rupert Lowe's content — by commenting on or retweeting posts — they get significantly more traction. This algorithmic boost gives Lowe reach that far exceeds what his follower count alone would generate.
Why Musk Backs Lowe
Several factors appear to drive Musk's support for Lowe over other British politicians:
1. Immigration Stance
Lowe's uncompromising position on immigration — pledging that "millions will have to go" and promising to deport all illegal migrants — aligns with Musk's stated views on border control. Musk has been critical of what he sees as lax immigration policies in Western countries.
2. Tommy Robinson Question
Unlike Farage, Lowe has been willing to acknowledge Robinson's role in "exposing [child grooming] gangs," while still maintaining Robinson is "not right" for his party. This nuanced position appears more acceptable to Musk than Farage's outright rejection.
3. Anti-Establishment Credentials
Lowe's willingness to break from Reform UK and start his own party demonstrates the kind of anti-establishment independence that Musk admires. His suspension from Reform may have actually increased his appeal to Musk.
4. Business Background
As a former businessman and City of London financier, Lowe speaks a language Musk understands. Lowe's positions on reducing the size of the state and lowering taxes align with Musk's economic libertarianism.
Impact of Musk's Support
Social Media Reach
Lowe has approximately 167,000 Instagram followers and over 1 million Facebook followers. However, on X, Musk's engagement multiplies his effective reach many times over, exposing his content to tens of millions of users who would otherwise never see it.
International Attention
Musk's endorsement has brought international attention to what would otherwise be a relatively minor British political story. American, European, and global media have covered the Musk-Lowe connection extensively.
Legitimacy Concerns
Critics have raised concerns about a foreign billionaire — particularly one with significant business interests and a role in the US government — influencing British politics. Musk's backing of Lowe has become part of broader debates about foreign interference in elections.
Lowe's Response to Musk
Lowe has welcomed Musk's support while maintaining that Restore Britain is a British movement for British people. He has used Musk's endorsement in party communications and has regularly engaged with Musk's posts about UK politics.
Key Moments Timeline
- January 2025: Musk calls for Farage to resign, praises Lowe
- March 2025: Lowe suspended from Reform UK
- June 2025: Restore Britain movement founded
- February 2026: Restore Britain becomes party; Musk endorses
- February 2026: Party hits 90,000+ members in two weeks
The Bigger Picture
The Musk-Lowe relationship is part of a broader pattern of the tech billionaire's engagement with right-wing populist movements across the Western world. From his support for Donald Trump in the US to his backing of Reform UK and now Restore Britain in the UK, Musk has become one of the most influential figures in global right-wing politics.
For Lowe, Musk's backing represents an extraordinary asset — instant access to a global audience and association with one of the world's most famous entrepreneurs. Whether this translates into electoral success remains to be seen.