British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of spreading "lies and misinformation" that threaten the integrity of the United Kingdom's democracy. Starmer's comments come after Musk used his social media platform, X, to launch a series of attacks on the Labour government and several high-profile officials, including Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister.
Musk's involvement in UK politics has intensified since the Labour Party's election victory in July. In recent weeks, Musk has posted inflammatory statements, including a call for a new public inquiry into child sexual abuse cases and accusations that Starmer failed to act on such crimes during his tenure as England's director of public prosecutions. Musk also conducted a poll for his 210 million followers, provocatively asking whether "America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government."
Starmer, speaking at a hospital near London on Monday, refrained from naming Musk directly but denounced those amplifying far-right rhetoric. "Once we lose the anchor that truth matters ... then we are on a very slippery slope," Starmer said. He criticized opposition Conservative politicians who have echoed some of Musk's claims, accusing them of amplifying falsehoods to gain attention.
Musk's posts have reignited controversies around child sexual abuse cases in northern England, particularly in towns where groups of men, mostly of Pakistani descent, were convicted of grooming and exploiting young girls. Far-right activists have seized on these cases to link abuse to immigration and accuse politicians of covering up crimes to avoid appearing racist. Starmer defended his record as chief prosecutor, emphasizing his efforts to reopen closed cases and overhaul the prosecution approach to child exploitation.
The Tesla CEO's most controversial remarks targeted Jess Phillips, whom he called a "rape genocide apologist" and said deserved imprisonment. Musk's comments drew backlash from advocacy groups and survivors of gender-based violence. A group of seven women, including three survivors of the Telford grooming scandal, penned a letter defending Phillips, praising her for her unwavering support of victims. There wass "no one in public life who has done more to support victims and survivors and to advocate for their interests," the letter stated. They criticized those who "weaponize our pain for their own ends or political gain."
Starmer addressed the threats against Phillips during his remarks, stating, "When the poison of the far-right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book, a line has been crossed." He called for robust political debate rooted in facts rather than inflammatory rhetoric.
Musk's interventions have also drawn attention from other European leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, another target of Musk's criticisms, expressed concern over Musk's support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Scholz noted that Musk's involvement in European politics was troubling, but he aimed to remain "cool" in response to personal attacks.
Musk's influence on UK politics extends beyond his online remarks. His endorsement of far-right figures and criticism of Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has fueled tensions. Musk recently suggested Farage should be replaced as leader, tweeting, "The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn't have what it takes." Farage dismissed the criticism, calling Musk "a remarkable individual" but maintaining his position as party leader.
Starmer urged British politicians to prioritize defending democratic values over engaging with far-right rhetoric. The main issue wasn't Musk's posts on X but "what our politicians are doing to stand up for our democracy," he said. He also cautioned against using social media platforms to propagate extremist ideas and divisive narratives.
