British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned “lies and misinformation” that he says are undermining U.K. democracy, in response to attacks from Elon Musk. The billionaire Tesla CEO has been using his social network X to call for a new election and demand Starmer be imprisoned.
Starmer criticized those spreading false claims, particularly opposition Conservative politicians who have echoed some of Musk’s statements. However, the UK leader emphasized that the main issue is not Musk’s online posts, but rather how politicians are handling the situation.
Starmer expressed concern about Conservative politicians seeking attention by amplifying far-right rhetoric, which he warned could lead to a slippery slope if truth is lost. He defended his record as chief prosecutor and condemned language used by Musk against Jess Phillips, a government minister responsible for combating violence against women and girls.
The UK leader largely avoided mentioning Musk directly, likely due to concerns about giving him more attention or angering Trump allies. Instead, he focused on the need for politicians to stand up for democracy and resist misinformation.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/keir-starmer-elon-musk-far-right-84d1813442f8f155a59b7349fac47db7