UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer ’s office on Monday criticised US tech billionaire Elon Musk for using what it described as "dangerous and inflammatory language" during a televised speech at one of the UK’s largest far-right protests.
About 150,000 people joined the London protest on Saturday, organised by activist Tommy Robinson under the banner "Unite the Kingdom."
In his address, Musk called for Britain’s parliament to be dissolved and for Starmer’s Labour government to be replaced. He also told the crowd that "violence is coming" and that "you either fight back or you die."
Also read: 'Fight back or die': Elon Musk's strong message at UK anti-immigration protest - watch
Starmer’s spokesperson said: "The UK is a fair, tolerant and decent country, and so the last thing the British people want is dangerous and inflammatory language, which threatens violence and intimidation on our streets."
Protesters marched over Westminster Bridge and gathered near Downing Street, where speakers included far-right figures from Europe and North America.
UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood also condemned the protest, which saw violent clashes, and referred to Musk as a "hostile billionaire" for urging people to fight against Britain’s democracy.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood said 26 police officers were injured and 24 protesters arrested during the demonstration. She added that while many protesters exercised their right to protest, "some turned on the brave police officers who were there to keep the peace."
Also read: Elon Musk calls UK PM Keir Starmer a ‘national embarrassment', demands his resignation
She continued: "Those violent thugs will face the full force of the law, but those who turn to violence on Saturday do not represent who this country really is. When a foreign billionaire calls on our citizens to fight against our ancient democracy, I know this is met by the vast majority with a shake of the head. That is because we are, in truth, a tolerant country. And yes, we are a diverse one too. You can be English with roots here that stretch back 1,000 years. But you can also be English and look like me."
Mahmood repeated Starmer’s earlier message that the St George’s Cross and Union Jack flags are "symbols of unity" and should not be used to divide people.
Also read: 'People intimidated on our streets': UK PM Starmer slams far-right rally; vows action after attacks on police
"The words that were used at the weekend are abhorrent and I know that the vast majority of people in this country will feel the same way; whether you're a hostile state or a hostile foreign billionaire, no one gets to mess with British democracy,” she added.
Starmer had said on Sunday: "Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division."
At the protest, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed that UK courts had put the rights of undocumented migrants above those of the "local community." He cited a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned an injunction stopping asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.
"They told the world that Somalians, Afghans, Pakistanis, all of them, their rights supersede yours — the British public, the people that built this nation," he told the crowd.
Robinson’s supporters later threw objects at anti-racism counter-protesters as both groups faced off on Whitehall in central London.
About 150,000 people joined the London protest on Saturday, organised by activist Tommy Robinson under the banner "Unite the Kingdom."
In his address, Musk called for Britain’s parliament to be dissolved and for Starmer’s Labour government to be replaced. He also told the crowd that "violence is coming" and that "you either fight back or you die."
Also read: 'Fight back or die': Elon Musk's strong message at UK anti-immigration protest - watch
Starmer’s spokesperson said: "The UK is a fair, tolerant and decent country, and so the last thing the British people want is dangerous and inflammatory language, which threatens violence and intimidation on our streets."
Protesters marched over Westminster Bridge and gathered near Downing Street, where speakers included far-right figures from Europe and North America.
UK home secretary Shabana Mahmood also condemned the protest, which saw violent clashes, and referred to Musk as a "hostile billionaire" for urging people to fight against Britain’s democracy.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood said 26 police officers were injured and 24 protesters arrested during the demonstration. She added that while many protesters exercised their right to protest, "some turned on the brave police officers who were there to keep the peace."
Also read: Elon Musk calls UK PM Keir Starmer a ‘national embarrassment', demands his resignation
The St George's Cross and the Union Jack belong to us all. They are symbols of unity, a kingdom united, and they must never be used to divide us. pic.twitter.com/6skPXfQ3Hq
— Shabana Mahmood MP (@ShabanaMahmood) September 15, 2025
She continued: "Those violent thugs will face the full force of the law, but those who turn to violence on Saturday do not represent who this country really is. When a foreign billionaire calls on our citizens to fight against our ancient democracy, I know this is met by the vast majority with a shake of the head. That is because we are, in truth, a tolerant country. And yes, we are a diverse one too. You can be English with roots here that stretch back 1,000 years. But you can also be English and look like me."
Mahmood repeated Starmer’s earlier message that the St George’s Cross and Union Jack flags are "symbols of unity" and should not be used to divide people.
Also read: 'People intimidated on our streets': UK PM Starmer slams far-right rally; vows action after attacks on police
"The words that were used at the weekend are abhorrent and I know that the vast majority of people in this country will feel the same way; whether you're a hostile state or a hostile foreign billionaire, no one gets to mess with British democracy,” she added.
Starmer had said on Sunday: "Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division."
At the protest, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed that UK courts had put the rights of undocumented migrants above those of the "local community." He cited a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned an injunction stopping asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.
"They told the world that Somalians, Afghans, Pakistanis, all of them, their rights supersede yours — the British public, the people that built this nation," he told the crowd.
Robinson’s supporters later threw objects at anti-racism counter-protesters as both groups faced off on Whitehall in central London.
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