Meddler-in-chief: Why is Elon Musk interfering in UK politics?
Why is Elon Musk interfering in UK politics?
Elon Musk is part of Donald Trump’s team but seems to have bigger ambitions. He is now meddling in world politics. On Saturday, he called for King Charles to dissolve the UK Parliament. The richest man in the world also threw his weight behind far-right activist Tommy Robinson and claimed that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage ‘doesn’t have what it takes’ to lead the party. But why is Musk so interested in the UK?
 "Meddler-in-chief: Why is Elon Musk interfering in UK politics?")
After US politics, now Elon Musk is looking at meddling in UK politics.
The owner of X and the richest man in the world on Saturday called for King Charles to dissolve the UK Parliament.
“It is my earnest hope that His Majesty considers this matter in the interests of his subjects,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X.
Then, on Sunday, Musk claimed that Nigel Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead Reform UK.
Musk influenced the US election by giving hundreds of millions of dollars to President-elect Donald Trump and campaigning with him in swing states.
But what happened? And why is Musk so interested in UK politics?
Let’s take a closer look:
Musk goes after Starmer, Labour
Musk has attacked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the grooming gangs scandal.
As per Sky News, the scandal came to light over a decade ago.
It revealed that girls as young as 11 were groomed and raped by gangs across England in towns such as Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford.
In 2014, a report by professor Alexis Jay showed that 1,400 girls were abused in Rotherham alone.
The report also highlighted inaction from police and social services.
Then, in 2022, a statutory Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), also chaired by Jay revealed that children are still being exploited in the “most degrading and destructive ways” across England and Wales.
Musk accused Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” and demanded that he face charges for “the worst mass crime in the history of Britain.”
But what does Starmer have to do with it?
According to Deccan Herald, Starmer from 2008 to 2013 headed up the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Starmer in 2013 introduced new guidelines on how to treat victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and how to prosecute such cases.
But Musk isn’t going after just Starmer.
Musk also targeted Jess Philips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, claiming she “deserves to be in prison.”
Philips previously refused to order a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal in Oldham. Philips instead has said that the matter ought to be left up to the local council.
Ironically, this was the same position taken by the previous Conservative government in 2022, as per BBC.
This isn’t the first time Musk has gone after the ruling Labour Party.
According to Sky News, Musk has been going after Labour since its general election victory last year.
When three young girls were killed at a dance class in Southport, a number of falsehoods including the identity of the attacker went viral on X.
Many of these were accounts which Musk had ordered unblocked.
When Starmer warned that whipping up violent disorder online is “also a crime,” Musk responded that was “insane.”
He also later claimed that “civil war is inevitable” in Britain.
As per CNN, he accused Britain of being a “police state” after it cracked down on far-right rioters.
Musk also attacked Labour volunteers who went to the United States to campaign for the Democrats.
He accused Labour’s campaign chief Morgan McSweeney of “violating US criminal statutes against foreign interference in elections”.
Musk since the New Year has written on X that “a new election should be called in Britain”, “Vote Reform” and “Shameful conduct by Jess Phillips. Throw her out.”
Musk backs Robinson, suggests change in Reform UK leadership
According to Forbes, Musk has also weighed in on the fate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Musk took to X to write, “Free Tommy Robinson.”
He added that a video by Robinson, which has been banned in the UK, was “worth watching.”
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is currently serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court.
Robinson, the co-founder of the English Defence League, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of repeatedly lying about a Syrian refugee.
Musk has falsely claimed that Robinson was sentenced to prison for speaking out against child sexual abuse.
Musk seems to have split with Farage over Robinson.
“The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes,” Musk wrote over the weekend.
This came after reports that Musk was thinking about donating around $100 million to Reform UK.
Musk then seemed to come out in favour of Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe as a possible replacement for Farage.
“I have not met Rupert Lowe, but his statements online that I have read so far make a lot of sense,” Musk wrote on X.
Farage responded to Musk’s comments by writing on X, “Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree.”
“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles,” Farage added.
As per Al Jazeera, Farage quit UK Independence Party (UKIP) in 2018 after Robinson was appointed as its official adviser.
Farage told GB News: “(Musk) sees Robinson as one of these people that fought against the grooming gangs. But of course the truth is Tommy Robinson’s in prison not for that, but for contempt of court.”
“We’re a political party aiming to win the next general election. He’s not what we need.”
Why is Musk so interested in UK politics?
Musk may be worried about how British authorities may regulate his platform X.
As per S_ky News ,_ Britain’s Online Safety Act of 2023 mandates fines of either $22 million or up to 10 per cent of worldwide revenue (whichever is greater) as a fine for social media platforms spreading disinformation, misinformation, promoting racially or religiously aggravated public order offences or the incitement of violence.
Many in the Labour Party doesn’t seem worried.
One Labour MP told CNN they were “looking forward to the great Musk vs Trump estrangement.”
The lawmaker added that they “noted the usual post-New Year energy from the right wing who are frustrated. It’s unseemly but that’s populism for you.”
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting called Musk’s views “misjudged and misinformed.”
“But we’re willing to work with Elon Musk. I think he’s got a big role to play with his social media platform to help us and other countries to tackle this serious issue. So if he wants to work with us, roll his sleeves up. We’d welcome that,” Streeting told Sky News.
“Musk’s support not just for Tommy Robinson, but also the AfD in Germany, shows just how big a problem he is for democracy as well as the reputation of those who cosy up to him like Nigel Farage and Liz Truss,” Labour parliamentarian Stella Creasy told Politico.
But others are warning of danger ahead.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, told ITV, “Elon Musk is the prime example of how the Twitter algorithm radicalises people into believing all kind of whacky and potentially dangerous conspiracy theories.”
“Elon Musk can sound irrational at times but he is focused on enriching himself. He sees the key to that as deregulation so that his companies can be unleashed to do as they like.”
“Musk and others must not be given oxygen in their attempts to undermine (the) government, elected by the British people — it is for them alone to critique,” another Labour MP told CNN. “It is clear that (his) increasing interest in UK politics must be recognised, not least (given) how social media is being used to manipulate the electorate,” they added.
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