Elon Musk calls for “revolutionary change” in UK during far-right London protest speech

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, gestures at VivaTech conference in Paris, France, June 16, 2023.
Reuters

Elon Musk has called for “revolutionary government change” in the United Kingdom, addressing a far-right anti-immigration rally in London via livestream on Saturday.

Billionaire Elon Musk stirred fresh controversy on Saturday by urging “revolutionary government change” in Britain while speaking virtually at a far-right protest organized by activist Tommy Robinson.

“There needs to be massive government reform in Britain and the people need to be in charge, not some bureaucracy that doesn’t care,” Musk told the crowd in a Q&A session with Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

The Tesla CEO and owner of X warned that “violence is coming,” telling demonstrators to “fight back or die.” He also condemned “the left” as a “party of murder,” referencing the recent killing of U.S. political activist Charlie Kirk, and accused progressives of celebrating the death.

Musk, a former adviser to Donald Trump, has previously waded into UK politics. During violent anti-immigration riots last summer, he claimed “civil war is inevitable.” In January, he said Prime Minister Keir Starmer “should be in prison,” while dredging up past scandals.

Once allied with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Musk split with him earlier this year after Farage distanced himself from Robinson. Robinson, founder of the now-defunct English Defence League, has been jailed in the past for contempt of court and spreading false claims about a refugee.

Saturday’s protest drew between 110,000 and 150,000 people, police said. London’s Metropolitan Police reported 24 arrests and 26 officers injured including serious cases of concussion, head injuries, and broken bones.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle called Musk’s speech “totally inappropriate,” though he acknowledged the protest highlighted “big concerns” the public holds on issues like immigration.

Prime Minister Starmer condemned the violence and vowed that Britain would not be intimidated.
“Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect,” he said in a post on X. “Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”

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