U.K. leader Starmer slams ‘lies and misinformation’ after Musk attacks : NPR

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday condemned “lies and misinformation” that he stated are undermining U.Okay. democracy, in response to a barrage of attacks on his government from Elon Musk.

The billionaire Tesla CEO has taken an intense and erratic curiosity in British politics because the center-left Labour Get together was elected in July. Musk has used his social community, X, to name for a brand new election and demand Starmer be imprisoned. On Monday he posted a web-based ballot for his 210 million followers on the proposition: “America ought to liberate the folks of Britain from their tyrannical authorities.”

Requested about Musk’s feedback throughout a query session at a hospital close to London, Starmer criticized “these which can be spreading lies and misinformation as far and as vast as attainable,” significantly opposition Conservative politicians in Britain who’ve echoed a few of Musk’s claims.

Musk typically posts on X in regards to the U.Okay., retweeting criticism of Starmer and the hashtag TwoTierKeir -– shorthand for an unsubstantiated declare that Britain has “two-tier policing” with far-right protesters handled extra harshly than pro-Palestinian or Black Lives Matter demonstrators. Throughout summer time anti-immigrant violence throughout the U.Okay. he tweeted that “civil conflict is inevitable.”

Just lately Musk has centered on youngster sexual abuse, significantly a collection of instances that rocked northern England cities during which teams of males, largely from Pakistani backgrounds, had been tried for grooming and abusing dozens of ladies. The instances have been utilized by far-right activists to hyperlink youngster abuse to immigration, and to accuse politicians of overlaying up the “grooming gangs” out of a worry of showing racist.

Musk has posted a requirement for a brand new public inquiry into the instances. An enormous, seven-year inquiry was held below the earlier Conservative authorities, although lots of the 20 suggestions it made in 2022 — together with compensation for abuse victims — have but to be carried out. Starmer’s authorities stated it might act on them as shortly as attainable.

Musk additionally has accused Starmer of failing to deliver perpetrators to justice when he was England’s director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013.

Starmer defended his report as chief prosecutor, saying he had reopened closed instances and “modified the entire prosecution method” to youngster sexual exploitation.

He additionally condemned language utilized by Musk about Jess Phillips, a authorities minister liable for combating violence towards ladies and ladies. Musk known as Phillips a “rape genocide apologist” and stated she deserved to be in jail.

“When the poison of the far-right results in critical threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my e-book, a line has been crossed,” Starmer stated. “I benefit from the reduce and thrust of politics, the strong debate that we should have, however that is obtained to be primarily based on details and fact, not on lies.”

Musk has additionally known as for the discharge of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a far-right activist who goes by the title Tommy Robinson and is serving a jail sentence for contempt of court docket.

Starmer stated folks “cheerleading Tommy Robinson … are attempting to get some vicarious thrill from avenue violence that folks like Tommy Robinson promote.”

Starmer largely prevented mentioning Musk by title in his responses, doubtless cautious of giving him extra of a highlight — or of angering Musk ally Donald Trump, who is because of be inaugurated as U.S. president on Jan. 20.

Musk’s incendiary interventions are a rising fear for governments elsewhere in Europe, too. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, one other goal of the X proprietor’s ire, stated he’s staying “cool” over vital private feedback made by Musk, however finds it worrying that the U.S. billionaire makes the trouble to become involved in Germany’s election by endorsing the far-right Various for Germany (AfD) social gathering.

Starmer stated the principle challenge was not Musk’s posts on X, however “what are politicians right here doing to face up for our democracy?”

He stated he was involved about Conservative politicians in Britain “so determined for consideration they’re amplifying what the far proper are saying.”

“As soon as we lose the anchor that fact issues … then we’re on a really slippery slope,” he stated.

Whereas some Conservatives, together with social gathering chief Kemi Badenoch, have echoed Musk’s factors, the principle U.Okay. beneficiary of his curiosity has been Reform U.Okay., the hard-right social gathering led by Nigel Farage that has simply 5 seats within the 650-seat Home of Commons however huge enlargement plans. Farage stated final month that Musk was contemplating making a multimillion-dollar donation to the social gathering.

However Farage is vital of Tommy Robinson, refusing to let him be part of Reform, and on Sunday Musk posted: “The Reform Get together wants a brand new chief. Farage does not have what it takes.”

Farage tweeted in response: “Nicely, this can be a shock! Elon is a outstanding particular person however on this I’m afraid I disagree.”