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Musk discussed ways to oust British PM Starmer before next election
Musk, the world's richest person and a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, last month endorsed a German anti-immigration party ahead of elections slated in February, and has repeatedly commented on British politics, demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer resign.
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A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaking during the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons, in central London, on May 1, 2024. (AFP/UK Parliament)
B
illionaire Elon Musk has held private discussions with allies about removing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from his position before the next general election, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
Musk, the world's richest person and a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, last month endorsed a German anti-immigration party ahead of elections slated in February, and has repeatedly commented on British politics, demanding Prime Minister Keir Starmer resign.
Musk has been weighing how he and his allies can destabilise the Labour government and has sought information about building support for alternative British political movements to force a change in government, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Musk didn't immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, outside regular business hours.
"His view is that Western civilisation itself is threatened," one of the people was quoted as telling the FT.
Musk earlier accused Starmer of what he said was a failure to prosecute gangs of men who raped young girls when he was director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013. Starmer subsequently defended his work as Britain's top prosecutor.
Separately, Musk is scheduled to host Alternative for Germany party leader Alice Weidel in a live interview on X on Thursday. The Musk-endorsed German party has been labelled as right-wing extremist by the German security services.
Earlier this week, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere expressed his concern over Musk involving himself in the political issues of countries outside of the United States.
Stoere became the latest European leader to raise concerns about attacks by the X social media platform owner.
"I find it worrying that a man with considerable access to social networks and significant economic resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries," Stoere told Norwegian public radio NRK.
"It is not the way that things should happen between democracies and allies," Store added when asked whether Musk might interfere in Norway's legislative election, scheduled for September.
"If we were to see that in Norway, I hope and I believe that all of the Norwegian political scene would object to this and distance itself" from such comments, said the Labour prime minister, who is struggling in opinion polls.
Musk has increasingly backed far-right and anti-immigration parties in Europe and launched attacks on leaders such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
