Tom Tugendhat Slams Elon Musk’s ‘Delusional’ Civil War Claims Amid UK Riots Controversy

Tom Tugendhat, a contender for the Conservative leadership, has labeled Elon Musk as out of touch with reality. This statement came after Musk, the owner of X, leveled charges at the British government amidst the riots that occurred last week.

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 4:

Tom Tugendhat, a contender for the Conservative party leadership, has dismissed Elon Musk's assertion that a civil war in the UK was unavoidable as "delusional".

In his initial significant address since announcing his candidacy for the Conservative Party leadership, the ex-security minister sharply criticized the billionaire owner of X for his comments regarding Sir Keir Starmer's handling of the riots that erupted after the Southport stabbings.

Musk declared that a "civil war is inevitable" amid ongoing riots, characterized by widespread violence in numerous urban areas throughout the UK.

Mr. Tugendhat remarked, "Honestly, I thought those remarks were out of touch with reality and completely untrue. The issue of how we manage our presence on social media is a complex one."

Referencing TikTok, he stated, "I choose not to use TikTok as its algorithm is controlled by a foreign authoritarian regime. Everyone else can decide for themselves."

The ex-military man spoke just hours after an IPSOS survey revealed that 60% of the population is indifferent about who will be the next leader of the Conservative Party. This includes 36% of those who cast their votes for the party back in July.

Discover more: Who are the candidates in the Conservative Party leadership contest?

Presenting himself as a moderate option, Mr. Tugendhat addressed the issue of "two-tier policing," a concern that Musk has similarly attributed to the prime minister's preferences.

The phrase refers to instances where certain demonstrators receive preferential treatment compared to others, a claim that Sir Keir has rejected.

Mr. Tugendhat stated that while he does not think the UK employs a dual-standard method in policing, he acknowledged that there is "inconsistency" in certain instances.

The opposition's security spokesperson stated, "The idea of a dual-level strategy implies a deliberate decision to discriminate between communities, which I don't think is actually happening."

He mentioned that inconsistency results in unpredictability and expressed uncertainty about whether a protest in London would be managed in the same way as those in Gaza or elsewhere.

He mentioned that consistency allows police officers to understand their actions, and also assures the public about their safety.

Discover further: In the conflict involving Musk and Starmer, what allegations have they made against each other regarding the riots? Reestablishing respect for law enforcement is necessary.

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

Mr. Tugendhat expressed that police ought to actively make arrests at protests that escalate into violence, rather than adopting a more lenient strategy where arrests are conducted post-event.

"As the minister responsible for security, I frequently urged the police to conduct arrests during the actual occurrence of crimes instead of delaying action until the protests concluded," he stated.

"When individuals crossed the threshold, they had to be confronted with swift and resolute action."

He also dismissed the possibility of forming an alliance with Reform UK should he become the leader of the Conservatives, responding with a simple "yes" when asked about it.

When questioned about the possibility of admitting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage into the Conservative Party, he responded with a definitive "No."

Stay ahead with the latest breaking news updates.

Download the Sky News application at no cost

Mr. Tugendhat, serving as an MP since 2010, secured his Tonbridge seat by a majority of 11,166 votes in July.

The ex-military man is among six candidates vying for the Conservative party leadership, including James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, and Mel Stride.

He previously ran for leadership in 2022, but was ousted in the third round of MP voting.

Associated Subjects

Footer of Sky News

Information on Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels on Sky

Additional Sky Websites