Elon Musk sparks furor over support for British far-right instigator Tommy Robinson

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - LONDON — Elon Musk has called for the release of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, triggering a salvo of criticism from center-left and liberal British MPs.

Musk pinned a post on X saying "Free Tommy Robinson" at the top of his profile Thursday after several posts criticising Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Minister for Safeguarding Jess Phillips over their responses to rape gangs in Rochdale and Oldham.

This prompted questions about what should be done now that X, the social media platform Musk owns, is favouring more extreme world views and whether the UK government should leave it, domestic media reported.

“(Musk) has pushed it too far this time. Twitter (now X9 is really rapidly becoming a cesspit, even for disinterested non-partisan types,” one MP told the Guardian newspaper.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a prominent far-right figure in the UK best known for promoting racist and Islamophobic views. After a short stint as a member of the UK fascist party, the BNP, he founded the English Defence League, which rose to prominence between 2009 and 2012.

The group regularly organised street demonstrations against immigration and multiculturalism. Over the summer, British police said they believed members of the now-defunct group were behind violent riots in protest to the deaths of three young children at a dance class in Southport.

Robinson is currently serving a sentence for contempt of court for repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee — defying an injunction after the Syrian schoolboy successfully sued him.

On X, Musk repeatedly criticised the government in London over its response to rape gangs in the UK, going so far as to demand the country holds fresh elections.

In one post, Musk said: “In the UK, serious crimes such as rape require the Crown Prosecution Service’s approval for the police to charge suspects. Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.”

He said Minister Phillips “deserved to be in prison” after the politician said the Oldham council should call an inquiry into child exploitation in the area over the national government.

Although he admitted that the justice system failed victims of sexual exploitation, Starmer was also responsible for the appointment of Nazir Afzal, who prosecuted the perpetrators of sexual exploitation in Rochdale.

Musk repeatedly attacked Starmer over the summer for his response to riots in the UK and is reportedly considering donating to the opposition fringe party Reform UK. Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, has tried to distance himself from Robinson.

Musk's posts mark an explicit endorsement of the UK's far-right and come a week after he publicly endorsed the German far-right Alternative for Germany party — leading to the German government accusing him of trying to influence upcoming elections.

In August, a slew of MPs quit X, citing concerns with the platform's role in amplifying disinformation under Musk's leadership.

Downing Street has yet to comment on Musk's recent posts however in August called one of Musk's posts proclaiming "civil war was inevitable" in Britain "unacceptable".

Musk has positioned himself as a key supporter and advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump. In turn, Trump has already appointed the South Africa-born billionaire as co-chair of the “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE — a panel tasked with overseeing major cuts in spending and regulations in the US government.

It is unclear where the incoming US administration stands on Musk's endorsement of far-right political parties in Europe. — Euronews