Britain’s Keir Starmer criticized Elon Musk after the tech billionaire suggested that the recent surge of far-right violence in the U.K. was “inevitable.”
A spokesperson for the British prime minister asserted that there was “no justification” for Musk’s comments, which were posted on the social media platform X, owned by Musk.
The United Kingdom has been experiencing violent unrest in several towns and cities, with mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers among the main targets of far-right demonstrations.
The unrest followed a tragic incident where three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport last Monday.
Musk, who has faced backlash for allowing false information about the attacker’s identity to spread on X, claimed on Sunday that “civil war is inevitable” in the U.K.
The billionaire’s remark was a response to a video shared by conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, depicting some of the ongoing disorder in the U.K.
“There is no justification for comments like that,” Starmer’s spokesperson responded on Monday when asked about Musk’s statement. “What we’ve seen in this country is organized, illegal thuggery which has no place on our streets or online.”
The spokesperson emphasized, “We’re talking about a minority of thugs that do not speak for Britain … The prime minister doesn’t share those [Musk’s] sentiments.”
Musk has emphasized his commitment to free speech since acquiring X and has controversially reinstated the account of British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
