Musk Labels Starmer ‘Hypocrite’ Amid Social Media Spat Over MP’s Controversial Tweets

Musk calls Starmer 'hypocrite' – X's owner taunts PM following Labour MP's removed tweet

Over the past week, Elon Musk has clashed with Sir Keir Starmer after the prime minister charged social media platforms with perpetuating unfounded allegations that incited riots.

Friday, August 9, 2024, 21:

Elon Musk has labeled Sir Keir Starmer as "hypocritical" regarding his stance on law enforcement, and has also taunted the prime minister about past tweets made by a Labour MP.

Musk has been clashing with Sir Keir since last week, following accusations from the prime minister that social media platforms facilitated the dissemination of untrue allegations suggesting the suspect in the Southport stabbings was an asylum seeker, leading to widespread riots in the UK.

The wealthy business magnate, who has emphasized the importance of free speech in his acquisition of Twitter, now called X, has also voiced his skepticism about the prosecution of individuals in the UK who encourage violence through the internet.

On Friday, Musk labeled Sir Keir as a "hypocrite". This came after the prime minister condemned Musk for claiming that Birmingham police practiced "two-tier policing," a term that suggests certain protests and demonstrations receive stricter enforcement than others.

Musk pointed out that Sir Keir had expressed disapproval of how the police handled the protests at the Sarah Everard vigil. Following this, the Metropolitan Police compensated individuals who were arrested during the demonstrations.

The owner of X asked, "Is this the same #TwoTierKeir who critiqued the policing of protests back in 2021?"

"Such a pretender!"

Musk also expressed that Sir Keir was "scared of applying the law equally to everyone in his own city" – and suggested that someone should inform the prime minister that Musk considered him to be "cowardly".

Earlier, Musk had drawn attention to a different article that was skeptical of the Labour Party.

Recently sworn-in Labour MP Lauren Edwards issued an apology on Thursday following the emergence of several derogatory tweets she posted over ten years ago.

She admitted to making a "serious lapse in judgment" for which she feels "profound remorse," though she did not specifically mention the posts in question.

Explore further: The Musk-Starmer Dispute: Allegations Exchanged

Screenshots, whose authenticity hadn't been confirmed, were being shared online of tweets that have since been removed

On Friday, Musk shared a screenshot from another X user that included one of the removed tweets, accompanied by Ms. Edwards's apology.

It states: "I need these f***ing Estonian r*****s out of my apartment immediately!"

He refrained from commenting on the screenshots. With an audience of 193.4 million followers, the post rapidly reached millions of viewers and was shared and discussed by thousands.

Musk's tweet has sparked global condemnation of Ms. Edwards, with numerous voices calling for her suspension, while others demand her arrest.

A commenter remarked: "Prime trolling."

For optimal video playback, it is recommended to utilize the Chrome browser.

Discover additional details on Sky News: Labour representative put on hold following Walthamstow demonstration. How effectively did the Prime Minister manage the unrest?

Ms. Edwards seems to have removed her X account on Friday, following her apology issued on Thursday.

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

From 2008 to 2013, Ms Edwards, who was born in Australia, served as a legislative aide for several Labour Party members of parliament, such as Barbara Keeley, Teresa Pearce, and Lisa Nandy.

On Thursday, Ms. Edwards stated, "I have come to realize that there were a few tweets I sent out more than ten years ago on Twitter, which I sincerely regret now.

"I made a major misjudgment, and I sincerely apologize for it."

"From my time as a local councillor to my current role as a Member of Parliament, I've personally witnessed the critical role that unity and cooperation, coupled with tolerance and respect, play within our community."

"I commit to leveraging my influence to persist in this crucial effort and devote myself to the welfare of all individuals in Rochester and Strood."

In the general election held in July, Ms. Edwards secured her position as an MP, receiving 15,403 votes.

She defeated Conservative MP Kelly Tolhurst, who had served as the representative for the Kent constituency since 2015.

Associated Subjects

Footer of Sky News

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels Under Sky

Additional Sky Websites