Starmer warns Musk, Robinson threaten democracy as UK grapples with flag and migration debate

Sir Keir Starmer warned that Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson threaten British democracy, accusing right-wing populists who exploit the English flag to feed hatred of endangering the country. In a Sun on Sunday column, the Labour leader argued there is a choice between a patriotic path of national renewal and a dark path of division and fear, saying that populists who only care about themselves risk casting a shadow over society. The prime minister also used a separate platform to urge the country to reject division and embrace a patriotic renewal, underscoring a government-wide push to frame national identity as something that unites rather than divides.

More than 100,000 people took to the streets in London on a march described by organizers as a demonstration against migration, a rally that police said left 26 officers injured. The protest was organized by Tommy Robinson, a figure with a criminal conviction history, and drew attention to the ongoing national debate over how the country handles migration and the symbolism attached to national flags. In a provocative moment captured on a video message, Elon Musk addressed the crowd and urged them to "fight back" or risk dying, elevating the intersection of politics, technology, and global influence in domestic discourse.

Sir Keir acknowledged that people are angry about years of strained public services, a sagging economy and eroding trust in politics. Yet he stressed that the flag remains a source of pride when used to unite, not to inflame hatred. He said: "I share that frustration. I'm determined to fix it. But a small minority see instead an opportunity to whip up hatred." He framed the choice as a national crossroads: a path of renewal, with citizens doing their part to rebuild the country they love, or a path of division that would leave the public with little to show for the rhetoric employed by populists. The remarks come as political leaders grapple with a broader conversation about how national symbols are deployed in public life and what responsibilities accompany those symbols.

In the wake of the rally, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Parliament should summon Elon Musk to answer for his remarks and called for an Ofcom investigation into X, the social media platform owned by Musk, and the businessman personally for failing to uphold duties under the Online Safety Act. Davey has signaled that he will press this issue at the Lib Dem conference, arguing that the government must hold tech platforms to account for what he described as harmful content and coordination that could influence public discourse.

A group of senior church leaders separately signed an open letter condemning the "co-opting and corrupting" of Christian symbols at last weekend’s Unite the Kingdom rally. The bishops warned that the event included racist, anti-Muslim and far-right elements and urged Christians from diverse backgrounds to stand together against the misuse of Christianity in politics. The letter stressed that the cross and other symbols should not be leveraged to provoke fear or hatred toward any community.

Polls released over the weekend offered a stark portrait of the political headwinds facing Starmer. An Opinium survey found that 54% of voters believe he should resign as prime minister, including about a third of Labour voters who switched allegiance in 2024. Starmer’s own approval rating slipped to minus 42%, approaching the minus 44% seen for Boris Johnson at a similar stage of upheaval in his tenure. The survey also indicated that 33% of respondents want Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to resign, compared with 27% who want her to stay, underscoring ongoing leadership uncertainty within the governing party. Badenoch pushed back, arguing that Labour’s economic approach would worsen the country’s finances and insisted she would stand by the pensioners’ triple lock, writing in The Express that the first step to reducing government spending is to address those who do not contribute rather than those who have contributed throughout their lives. She framed the discussion as a broader struggle over fiscal responsibility and social welfare.

Observers note that the government has faced a difficult early period, including two high-profile departures that prompted questions about leadership judgment. In this context, the prime minister is expected to outline further details of a broader vision for a patriotic Britain later this week, aiming to set a narrative that counters the appeal of populist rhetoric with a message of renewal and steadier governance. Parliament and the public alike await how the administration will address the tensions around migration, national identity, and the role of technology platforms in public life.

If the current trajectory holds, the coming days could shape how the country navigates questions about democracy, symbol, and civic responsibility as it moves forward amid a charged political environment. The ongoing debate shows no sign of abating as lawmakers, religious leaders, and citizens weigh the boundaries between expression and provocation in a moment of national self-reflection.