Britain wants to get close to Trump. Will Elon Musk stand in the way?
In the days following, the world’s wealthiest individual revisited a long-standing, painful scandal involving grooming gangs and advocated for the release of Tommy Robinson, a jailed far-right activist with a growing social media presence.
The tech mogul, who played a significant role in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, has posted or reshared content about child abuse cases in the UK on X over 50 times this week.
Musk has demanded the removal of Starmer and his safeguarding minister, called for fresh elections, and even suggested that King Charles III should dissolve parliament unilaterally – an action not taken in nearly two centuries and one that would trigger a constitutional crisis.
These issues are Musk’s latest fixation, but his discontent is not new – as Trump’s inauguration approaches, the X owner has been increasingly forceful in intervening in European politics and expressing support for far-right figures across the continent. He has frequently criticized the European Union’s policies and institutions, prompting Italy’s president to urge him to refrain from interfering in the country’s affairs.
Musk now presents a challenging new dynamic for Starmer. The British leader is carefully trying to build rapport with Trump while managing the rising influence of Reform UK, a populist, anti-immigration party that Musk has publicly endorsed.
“He will be a tremendous asset because he’s seen as a heroic figure, especially among young people who hold him in high regard,” said Reform leader Nigel Farage on GB News Friday. “He’s helping us by providing insights into how things were achieved in America, and that’s invaluable to us.”
Previously, Musk labeled Britain a “police state” in response to its handling of far-right rioters who caused violent disturbances on the streets last summer. He has long criticized Starmer on his platform and recently expressed support for Reform UK, which has capitalized on public dissatisfaction with the two main parties and now rivals them in opinion polls.
Musk has also targeted other European politicians; last week, the German government accused him of trying to sway the country’s February election by backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The group has been accused of reviving Nazi-era rhetoric, and its youth organization has been classified as extremist by German authorities.
Musk’s growing interest in Tommy Robinson has now made him a symbol for Britain’s online far-right community. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October after admitting to contempt of court by repeating false allegations about a Syrian refugee.
For many in Westminster, Musk’s outrage – like much of the online vitriol – remains little more than a distraction.
A Labour MP told CNN they were “eagerly awaiting the inevitable Musk vs. Trump fallout.” The lawmaker added that while using Musk’s platform, they had “noticed the typical post-New Year fervor from the frustrated right wing. It’s distasteful, but that’s populism for you.” A small group of lawmakers has even discussed whether to leave X due to concerns over content moderation.
Privately,
some Labour MPs are grappling with an obvious question: why are we the target?
Unlike Germany, Britain does not have an imminent parliamentary election for
Musk to influence. The next election is over four years away, and while
Labour’s government is not particularly popular, it remains firmly secure in
parliamentary terms.
For
Starmer, ignoring Musk entirely is not an option. The prime minister has so far
refrained from responding to Musk’s provocations – including accusations that
Starmer failed to address grooming gangs during his time as director of public
prosecutions – but MPs may soon demand a stronger response to shield ministers
from relentless online harassment. (This week, Musk has repeatedly called for
Starmer’s safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, to be jailed, labeling her
“pure evil” and “a wicked creature” on Saturday, over her preference for a
local inquiry in Oldham rather than a national one – a policy decision that is
not illegal.)
“Musk
and others must not be given a platform to undermine the government, which was
elected by the British people – it’s their prerogative to offer criticism,”
another Labour MP told CNN. “It’s evident that Musk’s growing interest in UK
politics must be acknowledged, particularly given the way social media is being
weaponized to sway voters,” they added.
Simultaneously,
the United States remains Britain’s closest and most significant ally – and,
for now, Musk appears to be the most prominent and influential ally of its
incoming leader.
Labour
is eager to establish a positive relationship with the Trump administration.
Alienating the president-elect could play into Farage’s hands, and there is a
strong economic incentive to collaborate with Trump on matters like exemptions
from his tariff policies.
Comments
from Starmer’s ministers reflect this balancing act. In a cautious statement,
health secretary Wes Streeting told reporters on Friday: “Some of Elon Musk’s
criticisms, I believe, are both misjudged and misinformed. However, we’re open
to working with him, especially given his social media platform’s potential
role in helping us and other countries address this serious issue.”
A Delicate Balancing Act for
Britain’s Right
It
remains uncertain how much influence Musk will wield over Trump’s decisions,
particularly in foreign policy, an area beyond his official duties as co-head
of the new Department of Government Efficiency.
Nevertheless,
Musk’s remarks are already leaving their mark on Britain – revealing the
fractures within its polarized and unusually fluid political landscape.
Kemi
Badenoch, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, responded on X by
calling for a “long-overdue… comprehensive national inquiry into the rape gangs
scandal.”
However,
her credibility on the issue, as with many others, is undermined by her role in
the ousted and highly unpopular Conservative government. That administration
had, in fact, commissioned a lengthy inquiry into child sexual abuse, which
concluded in 2022. The inquiry’s leader later criticized the government’s
inadequate response to her findings, including a key recommendation for
mandatory reporting of child sex abuse.
The
lingering legacy of the Conservative era has allowed Farage to position his
movement, with some success, as Britain’s “true” opposition. Musk’s growing
support for Reform offers Farage a valuable opportunity to bolster his
influence further.
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| https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/27/politics/us-uk-starmer-trump-harris-elections-intl |
However, there are risks for Britain’s populist agitator as well. Endorsing Musk’s support for Robinson was a step too far for Farage, who stated on GB News: “(Musk) views Robinson as someone who stood against grooming gangs. But the reality is that Tommy Robinson is 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,” Farage said regarding Robinson.
For prominent politicians across Britain’s political spectrum, Musk represents a complex mix of potential benefits and significant risks.
His tendency to praise far-right figures is unlikely to gain broad support in a country that, unlike some parts of Europe, has not experienced the rise of a major extreme right-wing political movement – something Farage will likely keep in mind, even as he seeks financial backing from the American billionaire.
In government, publicly distancing from Musk is not yet a viable option. The fragile nature of Starmer’s rapport with Trump might rely on maintaining a careful distance from the billionaire – for as long as it remains feasible.
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