‘Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk are not, and never will be, the voice of British people’

Read time: 5 mins

In brief…

• Elon Musk has been accused of inciting violence in a video message shown at the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march in central London, claiming “something has to be done” about the UK government, and that people must “fight or die”.
• The News Agents say that people like Musk, and protest organiser Tommy Robinson are being allowed to become the voice of the people, as the government reacts slowly and poorly to violence on its streets.
• They say the government has presented no alternative message to these far-right activists, and allowed people to “parrot” the messages shared by Musk and Robinson.

What’s the story?

Twenty six police officers were injured during a clash with Tommy Robinson supporters at a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march arranged by the convicted criminal.

The Metropolitan Police made 24 arrests, from a crowd more than 100,000 strong, after scenes of what it described as “wholly unacceptable” violence.

Footage on social media showed the violent clashes, along with images of white men urinating on the streets in central London, and the empty cans and carrier bags left in the wake of the march.

Some of those involved in the march claim they have ‘legitimate concerns’ about migration, and claimed to not support Tommy Robinson.

For others, the concerns are more extreme. Elon Musk, for instance, did not attend the march but appeared in a video message urging protesters to “fight or die” – a message Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has called on major British political leaders to condemn in the strongest possible terms.

Musk has previously claimed “civil war” is imminent in the UK. Robinson’s supporters heard the message loud and clear, with a police hunt now on for a man who called for Keir Starmer to be “assassinated” at the protest.

It took 48 hours for Downing Street to issue a response condemning the violence at the rally, and incitement to violence from its speakers and guests.

Is Elon Musk inciting violence on UK streets?

Since the murder of far-right US activist Charlie Kirk, the message from the right-wing has been that the left are to blame for the increase in political hostility, using words like ‘fascist’ and ‘nazi’ to challenge their opponents, often those who hold extreme views.

Days later, Musk was calling for a change of government in the UK, saying the country needs a “dissolution of parliament”, and that “violence is coming” in his message to protesters at Tommy Robinson’s protest.

“I really think that there’s got to be a change of government in Britain,” Musk said in his message.

“We don’t have another four years, or whenever the next election is, it’s too long.

“Something’s got to be done. There’s got to be a dissolution of parliament and a new vote held.”

Lewis Goodall describes his message as an “incitement to violence from the one the world's most powerful men.”

“If we're in a position where the government is not willing to take the fight to Elon Musk, who is literally calling for violence, to overthrow them at a Tommy Robinson rally, then frankly lads, we might as well all pack up and go home,” he says.

He says every side of the political spectrum needs to “get its act together”.

“We're getting ourselves into a position where Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk are being allowed to become the voice of the people of this country,” Lewis says.

“They are not and they will never be, unless decent political forces get out of the crouch position and actually take the fight to them.”

Far-right misinformation, including AI videos and images related to the march, have been shared widely on social media platforms, most notably X – owned, of course, by Musk.

“If you're wondering why people are coming to this and why it has become much harder to escape, it is amplified,” says Emily Maitlis.

“It is louder and noisier and more prolific because it is being backed with billionaire money.”

Should those on the left also shoulder some of the blame?

There is no social media platform owned by a left-wing billionaire with the power to amplify content in the same way Musk does for the right.

Politicians such as Ed Davey, Zack Polanski and Jeremy Corbyn have attempted to push their demands for a wealth tax, saying that it’s the super-rich who are the real issue in the UK, but this message is not as amplified, nor as suited to simple political slogans, as blaming everything on migrants, and calling to “stop the boats”.

But with a Labour government so slow to respond to violence on the streets of its capital city, it is they who must shoulder some of the blame for not presenting a counter narrative to the one so rampant on the right.

“There was a time in which a Labour government would have really had things to say about this, and would have really been clear in its response,” says Emily Maitlis.

Data suggests that 32% of people in the UK consider immigration to be a problem in this country, but only 4% believe it is a problem for them, and their local area. This suggests far-right rhetoric about small boats, asylum seekers and migrants is working, and making people believe this is the biggest issue Britain faces, even if people aren’t seeing it with their own eyes.

“If you go back to what any government should be doing, it's making people feel that their own areas, that their own localities are getting better,” Emily adds.

“When they do that, people don't start parroting that it's all about immigration”

Lewis says people in the UK are “desperate”, and considers this country to have “many problems” – but which are not being addressed fully by the government.

“It's the hard-right and far-right who are coming up with an explanation and analysis as to why the country is in a state – that's on the left, the centre and the centre right,” he says.

“The fact that they haven't put up any other ideas is appalling.”

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents.