Topline
Elon Musk on Saturday called for Britain’s King Charles to dissolve parliament and order a new general election over complaints about the British government’s handling of “grooming gangs” a decade ago, marking the Tesla CEO’s latest venture into global politics as British officials say Musk has shared “factually inaccurate” claims on social media.
The world’s richest man is “misjudged and certainly misinformed” about the British government’s … [+] handling of “grooming gangs,” officials say.
Key Facts
Musk shared a post on X saying he has called on King Charles to dissolve parliament, writing, “It is my earnest hope that [King Charles] considers this matter in the interests of his subjects.”
In other posts, Musk accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to properly prosecute gangs that sexually exploited children while Starmer served as director of public prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, claiming Starmer was “complicit in the RAPE OF BRITAIN” and should face charges “in the worst mass crime in the history of Britain.”
Musk also called on Jess Phillips, a minister for safeguarding, to resign and said she “deserves to be in prison” after Phillips rejected a request for a government-led inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham, England.
Phillips said Oldham officials should commission a local inquiry, however, and a similar request was denied by the U.K.’s conservative government in 2022, according to the BBC.
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Chief Critic
reported. Alicia Kearns, a parliament member from the Conservative Party, accused Musk of “drawing attention away from the survivors and from the victims” and said Musk has “fallen prone” to sharing posts on X “without critically assessing them.” The Conservative Party has reportedly criticized Musk for “sharing things that are factually inaccurate.”
Can King Charles Dissolve Parliament?
King Charles could dissolve parliament, though the monarch historically acts at the request of the prime minister, who would only request a dissolution to carry out a general election. Parliament is dissolved 25 days before every general election and on the fifth anniversary of the acting parliament, and was most recently dissolved in May 2024 before the U.K.’s most recent election on July 4, 2024. King Charles could refuse to dissolve parliament if the body remains “vital, viable and capable of doing its job,” if an election would be detrimental to the national economy, or if King Charles could find another prime minister who could “govern for a reasonable period with a working majority” in parliament’s House of Commons.
Key Background
The U.K.’s left-wing Labour Party, which controls the British government, has come under fire from right-wing figures—including Musk—who say they have failed to assist local officials with investigating alleged instances of child sexual abuse. Musk has increasingly inserted himself into British politics, including meeting Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K.’s far-right Reform UK Party, who said Musk was giving “serious thought” to helping fund the party. Musk has written several posts on X in support of British far-right Tommy Robinson, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October after being found guilty of contempt for repeatedly violating court orders finding him liable for making libelous claims about a Syrian refugee. Robinson’s X account was reinstated by Musk, who has falsely claimed Robinson was imprisoned for speaking out against instances of child sexual abuse.
Tangent
Musk has spoken about political affairs in other countries, including Germany, where Musk has supported the far-right Alternative for Deutschland party. In an opinion piece, Musk disputed criticisms of the AfD party as “right-wing extremist” by saying the party’s leader Alice Weidel is gay, saying, “Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk also accused Germany’s traditional political parties of becoming “comfortable with mediocrity,” suggesting AfD would “save Germany from becoming a shadow of its former self.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also touted her friendship with Musk, who has supported anti-immigration policies in the country.
Further Reading
ForbesWho Is Tommy Robinson? Why Elon Musk Is Posting About Far-Right British ActivistBy Alison DurkeeForbesElon Musk Supports Germany’s Far-Right AfD Party In Opinion PieceBy Sara Dorn
