London, September 16 (HS): Britain’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has condemned Elon Musk for using “abhorrent” language during a far-right rally in London, warning that no individual—“whether a hostile state or a hostile billionaire”—has the right to interfere with British democracy.

Speaking via video link at Saturday’s Unite The Kingdom march, attended by over 150,000 supporters of activist Tommy Robinson, Musk claimed that “violence is coming” due to “uncontrolled migration” and called for the “dissolution of Parliament and a new government” in the UK.

Mahmood dismissed the comments as inflammatory and un-British, stressing that the UK remained both tolerant and diverse. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also rebuked Musk as “deeply irresponsible and dangerous,” accusing him of treating British democracy as a “plaything for foreign tech barons.” Musk in turn branded Sir Ed “a craven coward” on his social media platform X.

The controversy drew further criticism from Downing Street, which warned that the British public would have “no truck” with violent or intimidatory rhetoric. The row has reignited debate over the government’s use of X, while the Liberal Democrats urged ministers to consider cutting commercial ties with Musk’s Tesla and scrutinizing his bid to enter the UK energy market.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, struck a more cautious tone, suggesting Musk’s remarks carried “ambiguity” but could be interpreted as a political call to arms for free speech and electoral change. Musk has previously expressed support for Farage, though he later backed away from directly endorsing him.

The episode underscores the volatile intersection of politics, technology, and populism, with Musk once again thrust at the center of Britain’s domestic debates.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar