this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2025
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UK Politics

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Elon Musk continues flexing his political muscle in 2025, calling for the release of a controversial British far-right political figure and increasing his support for a German far-right party.

...

The Tesla CEO then made a slew of controversial comments in support of German and British right-wing movements.

He said he might invest upwards of $127 million into the right-wing Reform U.K. Party and later said the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is the "only" party that can "save Germany," while rejecting the idea that the party is "rightwing extremist."

Musk wasted little time in the new year before he hit out at the British government, calling for the release of Tommy Robinson, a pseudonym for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

Robinson was a member of the English Defence League, a British social movement that has been described as racist and Islamophobic. He is among the most prominent far-right activists in the U.K.

Robinson is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court after he aired a documentary that a judge said contained libelous claims about a 15-year-old Syrian refugee. This is Robinson's fifth prison term.

Musk posted the full one hour and forty-five-minute documentary to X, formerly known as Twitter, along with a message to "Free Tommy Robinson!"

Politico spoke with a number of British members of parliament (MP) who expressed shock over Musk's backing of Robinson. One anonymous Labour MP called Musk's language "dangerous," while another called it "manipulative rhetoric."

Robinson has also drawn criticism from other right-wing activists and politicians.

...

What People Are Saying

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss wrote on X: "I am appalled by the attacks on free speech in Britain and Europe. We can't be truly free without free speech. Good for Elon Musk and X for standing up to these bullies."

Alex Jones of "InfoWars" reposted the Robinson documentary and wrote on X: "Tommy Robinson is an absolute hero! He is now in solitary confinement for defying the courts orders not to release his film exposed a huge Islamic child kidnapping sex ring! The totalitarian UK government governments attempt to suppress Tommy's film has completely failed and now it has over 122 million views."

"Veep" creator Armando Iannucci, who was born and raised in Scotland, wrote on X: Musk is a "dangerous fool" for supporting Robinson.

Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy responded to Musk's support of Robinson on X, writing: "Tommy Robinson is in jail for contempt of court because he repeated false claims against a Syrian refugee. Its not a 'debate'. Its a lie and he tried to use it to foment anger and hatred in our society for political gain. Elon Musk appears to be doing the same."

Shayan Sardarizadeh, a senior journalist for BBC Verify, wrote on X: "The owner of this app seems unaware that Tommy Robinson is in prison because he admitted to contempt of court after repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee who had been physically attacked at school despite being instructed by a court not to do so."

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago

Why are people still giving that poor excuse of a human being attention?

People should be sending letters to representatives remembering it is not Musk casting their ballots and that all that rethoric should be seeing hard push back.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'd call him a cunt but he lacks the warmth and the depth.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

Yeah i get the impression it would be like fucking a tesla battery.

Cold bruising and an expensive waste of effort.

[–] FelixCress 29 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Ban party donations from non-UK residents, cap donations at £10k per year and introduce a requirement for political parties to be democratic (as in, having internal elections).

Problem sorted.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What's the solution for UK companies donating? Ban all company donations?

[–] FelixCress 13 points 1 day ago

Yes, 100%. Directors of the companies can donate from their own salaries, obviously after these are taxed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

The government has two problems which is why it's being so laissez-faire about introducing any measures: First it has to be seen to not singling out anybody in particular. Any changes in the rules can't seem to benefit one party in and curtail others. The blow back would be even worse. Secondly, any changes need to keep the already massive income stream open for the incumbents.

Labour and Tory parties: oh shit... where has all our money gone?

If it was so simple you'd imagine why this hasn't already been done and got 100% parliamentary approval. Because like voting reform, these fuckers will only do what keeps their parties in power for the longest time. And if that means putting up with that jizz ball Musk, then that's what they'll do.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 day ago (2 children)

won't somebody rid us of this meddlesome billionaire?

[–] OwlPaste 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I think he should go look at Titanic up and close

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Or someone better give Luigi a ring.

[–] pdxfed 9 points 1 day ago

Space may do us a favor

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

The problem is near trillionaire shouldn't exist. This one being bat shit and being a destabilizing world influence is just highlighting it. He's got more money than many countries.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Everyone should ignore this rich baby. He has no political clout at all.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

He has money and influence, which, unfortunately, does buy him clout.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago

Amazing how in the What People Are Saying section, the prime lettuce and that podcast wanker are higher up the billing than an actual MP and a senior from BBC Verify.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

I think calling Tommy Robinson a 'political figure' is a bit generous.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 day ago (3 children)

It does feel like part of a larger game to him but this does really seem like overreaction to having a trans daughter.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

He's been in regular contact with Putin since at least the pandemic: https://people.com/elon-musk-vladimir-putin-close-contact-report-8734264

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

A bloke in the pub last week was telling everyone that Musk had, since his daughter's transition, gradually got into "raping and choking trans prostitutes" and "screaming at them and calling them sissies", and he'd accidentally killed one (or two?) by strangulation, and this was what Putin had evidence/video footage of, which he was using for blackmail.

Obviously "a bloke in the pub" isn't exactly the most reliable of news sources - and I can't (currently) find any other mention of this anywhere at all, so I think it's a little questionable... but not impossible.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's certainly now a thing I've heard and will tell people I heard. Not saying it's true, it's just what I've heard

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Haha, that's pretty much how I felt about it :)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

admittedly not even close to the most outlandish thing said in a pub, yeah I could buy that.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

Maybe if that were the main issue there would be the slight chance he could get over it eventually. It's definitely a big part of it, but it seems like this has been a steady progression for a while now. Plus a heavy dose of sunk-cost fallacy keeping him locked into every shitty decision he makes

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

American or European measurement for far right policies?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Cant get much further righr then cailng for a return to fuedalism.

He is asking King Charles to take over parliment for fuck sake.

Given the history of right vs left comes from Lords Vs Commons in early UK history.

IE the party that supported power from the lords sat on the right of the speaker. Vs early middle class land owners on the left of parliment supporting elected power.

Its def the more traditional definition.

[–] TheGrandNagus 0 points 1 day ago

I don't know where you got that idea. The left/right spectrum originated in 19th century France.

Although it was indeed originally derived from the seating position in the chamber.