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Or sign-in if you have an account.SpaceX, X and electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on as he speaks during his visit at the Vivatech technology startups and innovation fair in Paris, on June 16, 2023. Photo by ALAIN JOCARD /AFP via Getty ImagesReform U.K. Leader Nigel Farage is warning against potentially handing the Labour government a victory in a consequential byelection following tech billionaire Elon Musk’s tweets in support of a rival right-wing party.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. 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Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorPolls are showing a tight race between Labour candidate and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Reform’s Robert Kenyon, a plumber who came in second for the seat in Makerfield in 2024. If Burnham wins the election and becomes an MP on June 18, he is widely expected to challenge Prime Minister Kier Starmer, whose grip on power is looking increasingly shaky.“A vote for me in this byelection campaign is a vote to change Labour,” Burnham said last Friday, launching his campaign in the constituency, which lies between Manchester and Liverpool.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe byelection was actually triggered when Makerfield’s MP resigned, saying he wanted to give Burnham, a former longtime Labour MP, the chance to win the seat and challenge Starmer.Speaking to London’s Telegraph newspaper, Farage said Burnham would be “delighted” to see Elon Musk promoting Restore Britain, an offshoot of Farage’s party represented by a sole member, Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe.He said: “Elon Musk has decided he will try to split the right of British politics as best he can. This is supporting a party that’s one man with a social media account. Quite what he’s trying to achieve, I have no idea.” Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage walks through the House of Commons to attend the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on May 13, 2026. Photo by TOBY MELVILLE /POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesOn Sunday, Musk wrote “Restore Britain” over a tweet he shared of Lowe and again in a subsequent tweet featuring an interview by Reform’s Treasury spokesman. “Only Restore Britain can save Britain” he commented the following day, on another tweet of Lowe’s.Lowe formed Restore in February, splintering off from Reform U.K., which began as the Brexit Party after Farage worked successfully to pull Britain out of the European Union in 2016. Musk, who referred to Farage as “weak, runny sauce” in September, immediately began backing Lowe’s party after it was formed.As Farage, an immigration skeptic and anti-EU crusader, tries to moderate his brand of conservative populism in an attempt to make inroads with a broader range of voters, Restore has sought to outflank its rival from the right — particularly on immigration. On its website, the party calls for deporting legal, foreign-born residents for reasons such as being unable to speak English, living in social housing or claiming government benefits.A poll by More in Common this week on voter sentiment put Reform in the lead with 29 per cent support and Labour at 22 per cent, but found that support for Starmer’s Labour Party would jump eight per cent if Burnham led the party.Luke Tryl, a pollster with More in Common, suggested separately that Restore Britain’s challenge to Reform could hand victory to Labour in Makerfield.“In general we are noticing them being raised more in focus groups, and Lowe in particular among more right-leaning participants. It tends to be people who are more engaged so the test I think is are they just an online phenomenon or something deeper and Makerfield might show that,” Tryl told the Guardian.He went on: “Even if they get two, three per cent in a general election in an era of fragmented politics that could well be enough to make a huge difference in terms of seats and so Farage ends up in this dilemma of chase those voters but risk alienating the broader mainstream he needs to get to No 10.”Conventional wisdom suggests Farage’s sharp comments aimed at Lowe during a precarious election risks giving Lowe more attention. Soon after Farage’s comments to the Telegraph, Lowe responded in a lengthy post on X.“Farage has just gone to the media to attack Restore Britain, again. He says that Elon Musk is supporting a party ‘that’s one man with a social media account,’” he wrote.“This is where Farage is so very wrong. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of Restore Britain members, backed up millions of Brits who are with us. Those numbers increase every day. Farage can arrogantly insult me over and over, but he has never been more wrong.”National Post, with a file from Agence France-PresseOur website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.