British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a strong stance against Elon Musk, condemning the billionaire's recent barrage of attacks on his government as "lies and misinformation" that threaten UK democracy. The escalating feud has drawn considerable attention not only in the UK but across Europe, prompting responses from various leaders amidst concerns over Musk’s meddling in political affairs.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has expressed an unusual level of interest in British politics, particularly targeting Starmer and the Labour Party. Following Starmer’s election in July, Musk utilized his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to call for a new UK election and suggest imprisonment for Starmer. He even conducted an online poll proposing an outlandish claim that "America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government" (NPR).

At a press event, Starmer responded to Musk's allegations, criticizing him for propagating "misinformation" and accusing opposition Conservative politicians of echoing these claims. He emphasized that many of those amplifying such rhetoric are not genuinely concerned about the victims of crimes, underscoring a pattern of misinformation that has gained traction in political discussions.

The recent focus of Musk's commentary has revolved around historical sex crimes committed by "grooming gangs" in northern England, predominantly involving abuse of vulnerable girls. Musk has insisted that a new public inquiry be performed to revisit these cases, despite the prior completion of a seven-year inquiry under a previous Conservative government. Starmer's administration has indicated its intention to expedite actions related to the previous inquiry’s recommendations (SCMP).

Starmer defended his record during his tenure as director of public prosecutions, arguing that he "changed the whole prosecution approach" to child sexual exploitation and reopened several closed cases. Additionally, he condemned Musk's derogatory remarks aimed at Jess Phillips, a government minister focused on combating violence against women and girls, who Musk labeled a "rape genocide apologist."

Starmer remarked, "When the poison of the far-right leads to serious threats to Jess Phillips and others, then in my book, a line has been crossed" (Le Monde). Focusing on the broader implications, he questioned the role of politicians in defending democracy against misinformation.

This deteriorating political climate has not gone unnoticed by European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed their unease regarding Musk’s involvement in politics across Europe, especially after he endorsed far-right movements and political figures in Germany and beyond. Macron called Musk's actions a direct intervention in elections, warning that his influence could be damaging.

The political backdrop is further complicated by Musk's comments regarding the Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, and his controversial support for figures like Tommy Robinson, a known far-right activist. Although Farage has distanced himself from Robinson, Musk’s remarks saying, "The Reform Party needs a new leader," have incited responses amid rising tensions within UK politics.

As the conflict between Starmer and Musk unfolds, it raises pressing questions about the impact of social media on democracy, the spread of misinformation, and the responsibilities of political leaders in defending public integrity against incendiary rhetoric.