Lib Dem leader Ed Davey pushes for arrest of Elon Musk and Ofcom probe as trans rights row dominates Bournemouth conference

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said on television Friday that he believes in free speech but also called for criminal sanctions against Elon Musk over the billionaire’s control of X, signaling a hard line in a feud that has put the party’s stance on civil liberties under scrutiny. In a Sky News interview, Davey branded Musk a 'criminal' and said Parliament should haul him in to answer for Musk’s remarks during Tommy Robinson’s anti-migrant march last week. Davey also pressed for an Ofcom investigation into X and the businessman personally for failing to uphold duties under the Online Safety Act. When asked if Musk should be arrested if he visited Britain, Davey replied simply, “Yes.”

The comments come as the feud between Davey and Musk escalates, with Musk responding in kind and accusing the Lib Dem leader of craven behavior. Davey said Musk’s platform incites violence and cited ads and content he described as harmful, including promotions of self-harm, grooming, and videos depicting paedophile acts. In response, Musk labeled Davey a “craven coward,” and the two exchanged pointed online barbs, including Davey posting a SpongeBob SquarePants meme aimed at mocking Musk. The exchange underscored a broader debate within the Lib Dems about free speech, online responsibility, and how aggressively to challenge tech leaders in public forums. Davey is expected to reiterate his position in a key speech to the party’s Bournemouth conference.

At the conference, Davey argued that Britain must stand up to Elon Musk and enforce laws so that tech platforms cannot inflict harm on young people. He told attendees that the party would not tolerate what he described as violations of democratic norms by powerful tech executives, while maintaining that the Lib Dems still view free speech as a fundamental right. The party’s leadership has said it will pursue regulatory and enforcement measures, including potential Ofcom action, if platforms fail to meet legal duties under UK law. The remarks came as the Lib Dem conference faced disputes over internal diversity rules that govern gender quotas for party roles.

Within the party, a faction led by the pro-trans-rights activism reportedly faced procedural roadblocks as it sought to amend the party’s diversity quota rules to ensure that a minimum share of positions on federal bodies are held by people who self-identify as men or nonbinary and as women or nonbinary. The Liberal Voice for Women, a pressure group led by Dr Zoe Hollowood, argued that current rules could disadvantage biological women from roles set aside for women. It commissioned legal advice suggesting that the rules may be in breach of the 2010 Equalities Act and urged the party to “put its house in order.” In a BBC interview, Davey said he was “sorry if they are cross,” but insisted that Lib Dem policy complies with the law and that the party would continue to debate LGBT-plus issues at length. The conference ultimately moved on to other business without a vote on the proposed change.

The dispute occurred against the backdrop of the Unite the Kingdom rally and ongoing debates about free speech, online safety, and how parties balance inclusion with gender-based policies. Davey’s remarks come as Lib Dem activists and observers at Bournemouth weigh the party’s approach to big tech, digital responsibility, and the limits of political rhetoric in an era of rapid online polarization. As he prepared to address delegates, Davey said Britain “must stand up to Elon Musk” and ensure that laws are properly enforced so that online platforms cannot cause harm to children. The conference spotlighted the tension between safeguarding civil liberties and imposing stricter controls on online platforms, a balance the Lib Dems say they intend to strike with their policy platforms and legislative advocacy.