A Labour MP has suggested Sir Keir Starmer’s Government could ban X after Elon Musk attacked Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips for her role in the grooming gangs scandal.
Darlington MP Lola McEvoy, who entered the House of Commons for the first time on July 4, issued Musk with the warning as the Tesla chief continues to wade in on UK politics.
Speaking to PoliticsJoe, McEvoy said: “We are the oldest democracy in the world. We are committed to protecting our children and if there’s a breach of the law then we’ll use the full force of the law to deliver on that.”
Asked directly if this could result in the Government banning X, McEvoy argued: “I think that’s what it’s about, right? It’s about saying if these big platforms that have huge users don’t comply with the Online Safety Act then they have no right to have access in this country.”
Elon Musk as an inset with Jess Phillips
PARLIAMENT TV/GETTY
Addressing Musk’s spat with Phillips, the Darlington MP added: “It is appalling to see her [Jess Phillips] villainised like this.
“I think it’s a very dangerous situation where people who are not elected from other countries can have that kind of impact on our parliamentary democracy.
“I do think it’s testimony to Jess how she’s handled herself. She does not need anyone. She is rock hard.”
Musk made headlines at the end of last year after hinting at handing a mega-donation to Reform UK.
Lola McEvoy
PARLIAMENT TV
However, Musk later called for Nigel Farage to stand down following a falling out over ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.
The tech mogul, who is now throwing his weight behind Germany’s hard-right AFD, continued to comment on the state of British politics after the row, even lamenting Labour for the grooming gangs scandal.
He appeared to specifically take umbrage with Phillips’s role after GB News revealed that the Safeguarding Minister rejected Oldham Council’s request for a national inquiry.
Musk called for Phillips to be imprisoned and described the Birmingham Yardley MP as a “rape genocide apologist”.
Jess PhillipsPADespite describing Musk’s comments as “ridiculous”, Phillips warned the X chief’s “misinformation” was now endangering her.
Phillips also hinted at Sir Keir Starmer’s Government clamping down on X.
Speaking to Channel 4 last week, the Safeguarding Minister said: “The laws apply to Elon Musk as much as they apply to anybody else.”
Starmer has also been at the heart of Musk’s social media tirades.
Keir Starmer
Getty Images
Musk has since held private conversations about how to topple Starmer as Prime Minister ahead of the 2029 General Election.
The 53-year-old has suggested invading the UK and even forcing King Charles III to dissolve Parliament.
Addressing Musk’s previous interventions earlier this week, the Prime Minister said: “Those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and wide as possible, they’re not interested in victims. They’re interested in themselves.”
Despite later accusing the Tories of “amplifying what the far-right is saying” by calling for a national grooming gangs inquiry, Starmer refused to get drawn in on specific accusations.
Elon Musk GettyHowever, Musk’s posts are now being probed by the UK’s counter-extremism unit.
The Daily Mirror reported that the Home Office has stepped up extra monitoring to assess content and the reach of what is being shared on social media site X.
A source said: “We keep a close eye on how disinformation and hate can proliferate, including online.”
Lord Walney, who serves as the Government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, added: “Britain’s democracy isn’t a plaything for foreign billionaires – Elon Musk needs to back off and concentrate on his rockets and his cars or whatever he wants to obsess about next.
“Our electoral laws rightly forbid foreign donations and my recent review warns against our information channels being deliberately manipulated from abroad. We should be watching closely to ensure that doesn’t happen here.”
GB News has approached the Department for Culture, Media & Sport for comment.
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