Elon Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla and formerly led X, is facing calls for sanctions to be considered in the United Kingdom following his speech delivered via video link at an anti-migrant rally.
Ed Davey, a British lawmaker and leader of the Liberal Democrats, has dispatched a letter to U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, asserting that Musk sought to “sow discord and incite violence” on U.K. streets through his statements at the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration held on Saturday, which was organized by far-right activist .
Musk, a long-time commentator on British politics through his social media platform X, urged a governmental change and informed the London assembly, estimated at up to 100,000 individuals, that “violence is coming to you” and that “you either fight back or you die.”
He asserted that “massive uncontrolled migration” was a factor in the “destruction of Britain.”
“I am writing to urge each of you to put party politics aside and join me in publicly condemning these dangerous remarks, and to jointly consider what sanctions Elon Musk should face as a consequence,” Davey appealed in his letter. A duplicate of this letter was also forwarded to Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, and , the leader of Reform UK.
“We must make it clear that no individual, however wealthy or powerful, can get away with using their platform to inflame tensions and incite violence,” Davey stressed. He further stated that upholding freedom of speech is essential, as is the right to peaceful protest.
responded directly to Davey’s public sharing of the letter on social media, by stating: “You are a craven coward.”
When contacted for comment, a statement that Starmer had shared was referenced, in which he said “people have a right to peaceful protest” but condemned assaults on officers or people being made to feel intimidated.
“We will not tolerate assaults on police officers performing their duties or individuals feeling intimidated on our streets due to their background or the color of their skin,” Starmer declared. “Britain is a nation proudly founded on tolerance, diversity, and respect. Our flag embodies our diverse nation, and we will never yield it to those who employ it as a symbol of violence, fear, and division.”
Starmer has not yet offered a public reply to Davey’s correspondence.
Police reports indicate that 26 officers sustained injuries during the London demonstration, and a minimum of 25 arrests occurred. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist has stated that further arrests are possible as a “post-event investigation” is in progress.
Anti-immigration sentiments were a significant feature of the demonstration, with participants displaying signs bearing slogans like “send them home.” This development unfolds amidst escalating tensions between the populace and political figures concerning migration policies.
A hotel housing asylum-seekers in Epping, an English town located just outside of London, became a central point of protests throughout the summer. In August, the local Epping Forest District Council requested the reallocation of asylum-seekers residing at the hotel, following “unprecedented levels of protest and disruption” experienced at the location.