Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul, has sparked controversy with his assertion that the U.K. is on the brink of a “civil war” following a week of right-wing riots. His comments, made on his social media platform X, were met with widespread disbelief in Britain, where experts and the general public alike dismissed his claim as absurd.
Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, criticized Musk’s statement as “completely and utterly ridiculous,” emphasizing that anyone familiar with the U.K. would not make such a prediction.
The riots Musk referred to were triggered by the tragic stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, northwest England. Misleading rumors that the suspect was a Muslim asylum-seeker fueled the unrest, leading to attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum-seekers.
The suspect, however, was identified as Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old born in Cardiff, Wales. Despite this, far-right groups continued to incite violence, resulting in hundreds of arrests across the country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government swiftly rebuked Musk’s comments. Starmer, whose Labour Party recently won a landslide victory, condemned the riots as “pure violence” and pledged to bring the full force of the law against those responsible.
Elon Musk’s “Civil War” Claim Sparks Outrage in UK Amid Right-Wing Riots
However, Musk remained unconvinced, questioning Starmer’s focus on protecting specific communities and suggesting a broader approach was needed. This exchange highlighted Musk’s recent shift towards conservative politics, especially his opposition to policies supporting transgender rights.
The riots represent a significant challenge for Starmer’s new government, which faces numerous issues, including a troubled public health service and a cost-of-living crisis. Despite being one of the world’s richest nations, the U.K. struggles with high levels of child poverty.
The unrest underscores the persistent influence of far-right ideologies, which continue to exploit fears about migrants and ethnic minorities. While the scale of the violence is concerning, experts like Bale stress that it is driven by a small, albeit vocal, minority.
Musk’s remarks drew criticism from across the political spectrum in the U.K., with leaders from both the left and right condemning his civil war prediction as baseless and inflammatory. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander and former counterterrorism chief Neil Basu both denounced the riots and urged caution in rhetoric that could further inflame tensions.
Rory Stewart, a former Conservative lawmaker, also challenged Musk’s understanding of British society, questioning his qualifications to comment on such complex issues.
