- E. Musk defends British political prisoner T. Robinson on his X platform
- Is Musk's pledge of support for the Reform Party making Farage uncomfortable?
- Who is T. Robinson and what is he imprisoned for?
E. Musk defends British political prisoner T. Robinson on his X platform
Technology billionaire Elon Musk continues to play a full part in European political life. After recently calling German Chancellor Olaf Scholz a "fool" and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier a "tyrant", he has turned his attention back to the UK. And here he seems to be moving from support for the Reform Party of the Eurosceptic Farage to the imprisoned T. Robinson, who is accused of anti-Islamic views.
On his social media platform 'X', Musk posted a message 'Free Tommy' in support of British far-right figure Tommy Robinson, who has been convicted of spreading false claims about a Syrian refugee, despite a court ban[1].
T. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is considered one of the best-known far-right figures in the UK. Even figures such as Brexit supporter Nigel Farage have publicly distanced themselves from him because of his links to violent groups. Despite this, Musk has shared Robinson's account posts and called him a political prisoner.
In addition to his support for Robinson, Musk has criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of inaction in the fight against criminal gangs, mainly made up of individuals with Pakistani roots. Starmer, former head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), defended his performance by pointing to essential cases he had initiated.
In addition, the billionaire, who has become Trump's right-hand man, recently expressed his support for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ahead of the snap election campaign. With more than 200 million followers, his actions generate a great deal of attention on social media and a wide range of reactions at both political and societal levels.
Is Musk's pledge of support for the Reform Party making Farage uncomfortable?
While just a few weeks ago Musk announced his intention to support the UK Reform Party and its leader Farage called the billionaire a "goddamn hero", the political mood now seems to have changed. By supporting Robinson, from whom Farage has tried to distance himself, Musk has now, as it were, put himself in his place[2].
This reveals that Musk is walking a fine line at the moment because the Reform UK chairman, Zia Yusuf, is a Muslim, and Robinson has a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric. Farage, who had hoped to receive a substantial donation from Musk and recently praised him as a 'hero', is under increasing pressure to reconcile his admiration for Musk with his unvirtuous actions.
Observers speculate that Farage may privately urge Musk to refuse to support Robinson, but if Musk refuses, Farage will have to weigh up the financial benefits of Musk's support against the potential damage to himself and his party's reputation.
While the hundreds of millions of euros of support sounds tempting, critics and allies question whether this partnership will ultimately undermine Farage's political goals.
Who is T. Robinson and what is he imprisoned for?
T. Robinson is imprisoned for spreading false claims about a Syrian refugee. Musk has encouraged Robinson's release by asking why he is in solitary confinement for 'telling the truth' and has criticized British officials, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for not prosecuting child rapists[3].
Meanwhile, Robinson, known for his anti-Islamic and anti-immigration views, has a long history of legal problems, including several prison sentences. Musk, who restored Robinson's "X" account after acquiring the platform, has often circulated Robinson's controversial ideas, including promoting his banned documentary on migrant "gang rapists".
E. Musk's posts in support of Robinson emerged after a local authority review was reported, which found that children in Oldham, England, were being sexually abused. Musk also has links with other far-right figures in Europe, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Robinson was found to have breached UK court rules by posting a video and making public statements repeating false claims about a refugee who had previously been the subject of a 2021 libel case.
A politician falsely accused a Syrian schoolboy of assaulting English girls and was later ordered to pay £100 000 in compensation. Despite being told not to repeat the allegations, he continued to do so systematically.
For his part, the judge noted that Robinson's actions showed a deliberate disregard for the law. However, the politician's social media content, including his controversial film "Silenced", continues to be widely circulated and attracts support from the far right.
