Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk courted controversy on Sunday (Sept. 13) after appearing by video link at “Unite the Kingdom,” a mass protest spearheaded by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson. During his remarks, Musk denounced what he termed the “woke mind virus,” warned that “violence is coming,” and called for the dissolution of the UK Parliament. Minutes later, violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police, according to government figures, leaving at least 24 people injured and resulting in 26 arrests. Officers reported being punched, kicked and pelted with bottles.
Speaking alongside Robinson, Musk blamed “massive uncontrolled migration” for what he described as the “destruction of Britain.” He has previously criticised the UK Government over the handling of grooming gang scandals and attacked the country’s new Online Safety Act as a threat to free speech. Musk’s increasingly combative rhetoric marks a sharp departure from his earlier cordial ties with figures such as Nigel Farage; recently he even urged the ouster of the Reform UK leader over Farage’s support for Robinson.
Government ministers condemned Musk’s comments. Business Secretary Peter Kyle called them “slightly incomprehensible” and “totally inappropriate.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a post on X on Monday (Sept. 14), affirmed the right to peaceful protest but warned that violence against police or intimidation on Britain’s streets “will not be tolerated.” He also said the Union Flag represents a diverse country and “will not be surrendered” to those using it to incite fear and division.
Robinson — whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who founded the English Defence League — claimed the rally was about “saving free speech,” but observers noted that speeches from European far-right politicians largely focused on migration and nationalist messaging. Police estimated roughly 150,000 people attended the march, with about 5,000 counter-protesters joining a separate “Stand Up to Racism” demonstration nearby. Marchers at Robinson’s rally waved St George’s crosses and Union Jacks, chanting slogans such as “We want our country back.”
This episode highlights how mainstream figures like Musk can lend visibility to movements on the political fringes. It also underscores the growing tension between free-speech arguments and rising street-level confrontation around immigration and national identity in the UK.
