- Musk’s ‘outrageous’ actions represent an ‘extremely dangerous’ threat to political systems in other countries, warns ex-British naval chief Alan West
- Musk is trying to ‘stir up division and hatred in British politics ... whip up hatred against Europe’s large, generally law-abiding Muslim populations,’ says veteran journalist Peter Oborne-
- Musk has shown ‘he has the power to disrupt the political agenda,’ but his influence is unlikely to significantly affect electoral outcomes, says British academic Rob Ford
LONDON
As the world’s richest man ignites a political firestorm in Europe, nowhere have Elon Musk’s actions raised more consternation than in the UK, a traditionally close US ally hardly used to such antagonistic comments from across the Atlantic.
Musk’s attacks on the British government and politicians have ranged from grave accusations of covering up grooming gang crimes to straight-out calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sacking.
His inflammatory comments, including anti-migrant and Islamophobic rhetoric, and avowed support for far-right figures in the UK and across Europe have drawn widespread condemnation, fueling debate over foreign influence, free speech, and the role of social media in modern politics.
In the UK, figures such as Alan West, a former British naval chief and current member of the House of Lords, and veteran journalist Peter Oborne are warning of “extremely dangerous” implications, calling out Musk for trying to “whip up hatred” against Muslims and minorities in Europe.
In a series of posts on his social media platform X, Musk alleged that UK authorities prioritize imprisoning individuals for social media posts rather than addressing grooming gang crimes.
He went further, accusing the government of “releasing convicted pedophiles” to suppress dissent online, labeling the issue a “free speech crisis.”
The controversy escalated when Musk called on King Charles III to dissolve Parliament and trigger a general election.
Starmer has rejected Musk’s allegations, condemning his divisive narratives: “Those spreading lies and misinformation are not interested in victims; they’re interested in themselves.”
That has done little to deter Musk, though, with a new report by the Financial Times saying he has held private talks with allies on how Starmer could be ousted before the UK’s next election.
Alarm over Musk’s influence
While this is not Musk’s first foray into British politics, it is his most incendiary to date.
Another key difference is his elevated position in international politics: he has emerged as an apparently close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, set to hold a position in the incoming administration.
Last year, he expressed strong opinions on the UK’s handling of anti-immigration riots, framing the situation as a free speech issue.
His recent alignment with far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson and movements like Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party have further exacerbated tensions and deepened divisions in the political landscape.
Speaking to Anadolu, West expressed deep concern over Musk’s growing influence and the implications of external influences on political systems.
“It’s extremely dangerous for people from other countries to try and influence voters and voting patterns within another country. They don’t understand the details and the nuances,” he said.
West described Musk’s remarks as “off the wall” and “outrageous,” questioning their basis: “You do wonder where he’s getting his information from, and so it’s very, very dangerous. I don’t think that should be done.”
The retired admiral did not shy away from addressing Musk’s perceived power: “He’s very powerful. He’s very rich. But what I’ve noticed in my life is that quite a lot of very successful rich businessmen are not that clever at all sorts of other things. That’s just my judgment on them.”
West also highlighted Musk’s ties to Trump, noting the potential for their collaboration to influence international politics.
“As he’s going to be part of his government, one has to look carefully at what’s being said by him, because no doubt he’s saying the same thing to Trump when he becomes president,” he warned.
Predicting friction between Musk and Trump, West added: “I have no doubt that after a few months, Trump will get fed up with him, and we’ll see a split between them in America.”
‘Power to disrupt the political agenda’
Oborne, former chief political commentator at The Daily Telegraph, described Musk as a “man-child,” emphasizing that his divisive rhetoric is damaging British politics.
“He is using … X to stir up division and hatred in British politics, forging alliances on the far right in the process,” he told Anadolu.
“The effect of his actions and words is to whip up hatred against Europe’s large, generally law-abiding Muslim populations. This is mistaken, dangerous, inflammatory, and wrong.”
Building on these views, British academic Rob Ford pointed out that Musk has now shown “he has the power to disrupt the political agenda.”
However, he believes that while the Tesla, X, and SpaceX chief’s influence could disrupt discussions among the political elite, it is unlikely to significantly affect electoral outcomes.
“What we can say with some certainty is that Musk himself is now extremely unpopular with the British public, and his recent interventions will almost certainly make him even more unpopular,” said Ford, a political science professor at the University of Manchester.
The controversies surrounding Musk have also raised questions about Tesla’s reputation in the UK.
“Tesla cars have been very popular with well-meaning liberal types in Britain,” Ford observed.
“I don’t think that’s going to be the case going forward. No one is going to want to be associated with this guy’s politics anymore.”
Ford also noted that even Farage, who might have benefited from Musk’s financial support in the past, has distanced himself from the billionaire’s recent claims to avoid association with “deeply toxic figures.”
