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What’s behind Elon Musk’s call for UK prisoner Tommy Robinson’s release?

January 2, 2025
Elon Musk, a key figure in U.S. politics and a member of President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle, is making waves in the United Kingdom. Through a series of posts on X, Musk has called for government intervention in the ongoing “grooming gangs” scandal. His remarks began Wednesday, Jan. 1, with a call for the release of conservative political activist Tommy Robinson from a U.K. prison.

Musk’s post on X, which said “Free Tommy Robinson!”, sparked a wider conversation, particularly within conservative circles in both the U.S. and the U.K. Some political leaders are now demanding government reform and federal investigations in the U.K. in response to Musk’s recent comments.

Robinson is one of Britain’s most prominent right-wing political activists. He is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence in the U.K. for defying a court order that prohibited him from repeating child abuse allegations he made against a Syrian refugee teenager in 2018. The refugee denied the abuse claims and successfully sued Robinson for libel.

Despite the court ruling, Robinson repeated the accusations in a banned documentary, which Musk later reposted. The documentary centered around Robinson’s claim of a “weaponized government.”

“This story is far bigger than Tommy Robinson. It’s about the weaponization and politicization of court buildings across the West,” Robinson said while discussing what he believes is a misuse of legal systems to silence critics.

Robinson has also created a documentary series about gang rapes involving young girls in England, which gained widespread attention after Musk’s posts.

“Why is Tommy Robinson in a solitary confinement prison for telling the truth? He should be freed, and those who covered up this travesty should take his place in that cell,” Musk posted on X.

Musk continued, “In the U.K., serious crimes such as rape require the Crown Prosecution Service’s approval for the police to charge suspects. Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008 -2013.”

Musk’s posts have caught the attention of U.S. lawmakers. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, reposted a video by Robinson titled “The Rape of Britain – Episode One.”

In the video, Robinson says, “Our government, social services, and police force sacrificed a generation of our daughters.”

Lee wrote in his post, “The U.K. must free Tommy Robinson. If it doesn’t, there must be consequences.”

The leader of the Conservative Party in the U.K., Kemi Badenoch, has also called for a full national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.

“The time is long overdue for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal,” Badenoch posted on X. “Trials have taken place all over the country in recent years, but no one in authority has connected the dots. 2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice.”

In December, Musk met with the leader of Reform U.K., a conservative populist party, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The party leader also criticized the “establishment” over the grooming gangs scandal. However, GB News reported that the British government formally rejected requests for further investigations into historic child abuse.

Currently, the U.K. is under the control of the left-wing Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer. Musk has traded jabs with Starmer online over various political issues. The tension continued when Starmer’s ally, Labour MP Jess Phillips, rejected further investigation into the grooming gangs issue.

Musk responded on X, “Who is the boss of Jess Phillips right now? Keir Starmer. The real reason she’s refusing to investigate the rape gangs is that it would obviously lead to the blaming of Keir Starmer (head of the CPS at the time).”

While Starmer has responded to Musk’s claims in the past, he has yet to address Musk’s latest post about him.

Musk’s involvement in conservative movements in both the U.S. and the U.K. follows his recent criticism of Germany’s left-wing party leaders in an op-ed supporting the country’s conservative party in the upcoming February elections.
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British navy struggles to stay afloat, only 2 destroyers operational

December 16, 2024

The British Royal Navy’s operational capacity has reached a historic low, with only two of its six advanced Type 45 destroyers available for deployment, according to the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense. The other four destroyers are undergoing extensive repairs and maintenance at Portsmouth.

The decline leaves the fleet at its smallest operational size in over a century, raising concerns about national security and Britain’s ability to respond to global threats.

The Type 45 destroyers, also known as the Daring class, are critical for countering air and missile attacks. The vessels serve as the backbone of the U.K.’s air and missile defense system.

However, maintenance problems have plagued the vessels since their launch. HMS Daring, commissioned 12 years ago, has reportedly spent more time under repair than in active service.

The issue extends to the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates, with only six of the eight ships in service. This leaves just eight operational destroyers and frigates out of a fleet of 14.

Lawmakers expressed alarm over the situation. Mike Martin, a member of Parliament’s Defense Select Committee, warned that with only two destroyers ready, the U.K. may struggle to defend London, let alone the rest of the nation.

Some members of Parliament proposed stationing a destroyer on the Thames to provide a defense against missile threats, mirroring strategies used in other conflict zones.

The challenges facing the British navy come as Britain’s armed forces face broader resource constraints.

The British army has been reduced to 73,000 active-duty soldiers, its lowest level since 1823.

Further scrutiny comes with plans to cut costs by retiring additional ships, including amphibious assault vessels HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, as well as the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland.
Trump’s trip to Notre Dame ceremony gives leaders chance to build closer ties

December 6, 2024
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening the weekend of Dec. 7. And while the ceremonies will be an emotional moment for the French public, the events will also be a major opportunity for world leaders to meet.

With President-elect Donald Trump being among the roughly 50 world leaders to attend, it’s a chance for other countries to try to curry favor. It’s his first trip abroad as president-elect. Trump will attend events in Paris this weekend, as will First Lady Jill Biden.

French President Emmanuel Macron has already made prominent appearances at events leading up to the cathedral’s reopening.

Domestically, Macron is facing trouble after the resignation of prime minister Michel Barnier and collapse of the parliamentary government. However, Macron may be able to strengthen ties between France and President-elect Trump. The two overlapped as leaders during Trump’s first term.

Trump has met or spoken with a number of leaders since winning last month’s election, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to the president-elect’s residence at Mar-a-Lago for talks last weekend. Trump has warned he will implement tariffs on many goods from Canada because of concerns about U.S. border security.

The first ceremony occurs Saturday afternoon. The archbishop of Paris will start things off by knocking on the doors to reopen them. The ceremony will include prayers, songs and remarks by President Macron to a crowd including the dozens of world leaders who accepted his invitation.
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The UK has paid wind energy providers $1.3B in 2024 to shut down production

December 3, 2024
The U.K.’s wind energy industry set a new record this year in the amount of power produced that has ultimately gone to waste. Despite surpassing 30 gigawatts of wind power capacity in 2024, enough electricity for approximately 10 million homes, the nation’s grid has not expanded sufficiently to handle the additional energy generation.

As a result of this problem, grid operators are often forced to pay wind farms to reduce or halt their operations during periods of congestion, with these constraint costs ultimately being passed on to consumers.

So far in 2024, the U.K. has spent $1.3 billion to curtail wind energy production due to grid limitations. This figure already exceeds the total costs for 2023, making it the second-highest on record, behind 2022, during which time energy prices were nearly three times higher.

When grid bottlenecks occur, operators prioritize energy sources closer to demand centers, often shutting down wind turbines in remote areas and relying instead on gas-powered facilities located around cities. Experts have raised concerns that this system will hamper the U.K.’s ability to meet its goal of decarbonizing the country’s energy sector by 2035.
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UK defense chief warns military not ready to fight war or stop invasion

October 25, 2024

Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey issued a stark warning on the state of the U.K.’s military readiness, stating that the armed forces would struggle to stop an invasion, and are not prepared for a large-scale war. Healey attributed these challenges to years of underfunding, which he says has led to critical shortages in personnel and equipment across all branches, especially the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Speaking on Politico’s “Power Play” podcast, he said that while the U.K. military is proficient in operations, it currently lacks the resources necessary to effectively deter or engage in high-intensity conflicts.

“The U.K., in keeping with many other nations, has essentially become very skilled and ready to conduct military operations. What we’ve not been ready to do is to fight. And unless we’re ready to fight, we’re not in shape to deter,” Healey said.

He further emphasized that the U.K. must improve its deterrence capabilities to counter future aggression effectively.

The Ministry of Defence supports Healey’s concerns, noting severe personnel and equipment shortages across the board. The British army’s strength is projected to fall below 70,000 trained soldiers, and fewer than half of the Royal Navy’s destroyers and frigates are currently deployable. The army’s Challenger 2 tank fleet also shows signs of strain, with only 157 of 227 tanks operational.

In response, the Labour government has launched a defense review, aiming to boost spending to NATO’s recommended 2.5% of GDP. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized the “hollowing out” of the military by previous administrations and pledged additional funding to reinforce the U.K.’s defense capabilities.

“Our forces need to be able to innovate,” Healey said. “We need to take new technologies and some of the lessons from Ukraine and make what we do more lethal and, therefore, a stronger deterrence.”

Both Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have underscored the importance of Europe assuming greater responsibility for its own defense, particularly amid rising global tensions.
Transatlantic election friction: Trump, Musk versus UK Labour Party

October 23, 2024
Former President Trump has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against the Harris-Walz campaign and the Labour Party of the United Kingdom. Trump alleges that the U.K. is interfering in the election by recruiting party members to campaign for Harris in swing states. He claims that the British group made illegal foreign national contributions and has significant influence over the Harris campaign’s messaging.

In the FEC complaint, Trump’s lawyer stated, “When representatives of the British government previously sought to go door-to-door in America, it did not end well for them. This past week marked the 243 anniversary of the surrender of British forces at the Battle of Yorktown, a military victory that ensured that the United States would be politically independent of Great Britain. It appears that the Labour Party and the Harris for President campaign have forgotten the message.”

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said party members have traveled to the U.S. “pretty much every election,” and they do so in their spare time as volunteers. The BBC reported that Labour staffers campaigning in the U.S. have taken leave from their roles and are funding their own trips.

The Trump campaign is questioning this activity, pointing to a now-deleted post on LinkedIn by Labour Party leader Sofia Patel. The campaign claims the post was recruiting current and former members to campaign for Harris in North Carolina, with 100 members signing up, and that Patel would help “sort out their housing.”

The filing suggests the language of the post implied that travel costs would be covered for those who signed up.

Starmer maintains that the party has done nothing illegal and stated that he will work with whoever becomes president, regardless of the outcome in November.

This dispute between Trump and the Labour Party comes as Trump ally Elon Musk is engaged in his own feud with the group.

The “Center for Countering Digital Hate,” which is linked to the Labour Party and aims to stop the spread of misinformation online, had internal documents leaked by a whistleblower, according to journalist Matt Taibbi’s report.

The documents revealed the group’s agenda, with the top item stating, “Kill Musk’s Twitter.”

The group reportedly planned to achieve this by targeting and harassing X advertisers, using EU regulations as leverage to persuade them to withdraw their financial support from the platform.

Musk reposted the Taibbi report on X with the caption, “This is war.” The Labour Party has not commented on the claims contained in the report.

A few prominent political figures across the pond have also campaigned directly for Trump. Included is former MEP and current Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage, who has appeared at multiple Trump campaign events in the past, this year visiting the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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UK accuses Russia of bombing humanitarian aid ships bound for Gaza

October 23, 2024
The United Kingdom accused Russia of indiscriminately bombing ships transporting food to Gaza as Russia steps up its attacks on Ukrainian ports. British intelligence asserts these strikes are preventing crucial aid from being delivered to Palestinians and others in need.

British defense officials report Russia hit at least four merchant vessels between Oct. 5 and Oct. 14. That includes a Panama-flagged vessel carrying sunflower oil as part of a United Nations shipment, according to U.K. intelligence. Officials also said that Russia hit ships carrying grain to Egypt and the U.N.’s World Food Program in South Africa.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the revelations show Russian President Vladimir Putin is “willing to gamble on global food security” as the Kremlin leader becomes more desperate to defeat Ukraine.

The accusations against Russia come as Starmer is under pressure from British Palestinian families who want a British presence at border crossings in Gaza to ensure quick inspections and that aid flows without restrictions.

The Biden administration is also reportedly frustrated by delays to U.S.-funded aid into Gaza, saying the flow of supplies dropped by more than 50% since last March. The U.S. threatened to withhold weapons shipments to Israel earlier this month unless 300 aid trucks were allowed to enter Gaza a day. Israel says aid shipments have since increased since the warning from the United States.

However, health officials in northern Gaza still warn that supplies are dwindling to treat patients as Israel renews an offensive in the region.
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The UK now has most migrants in country illegally in Europe: Study

October 7, 2024
A new study found Britain has more migrants in the country illegally than any other part of Europe. According to Oxford University Researchers, there are 745,000 undocumented migrants in the United Kingdom. That’s 1 in 100 of the population.

A total of 973 migrants reached the U.K. on Saturday, Oct. 5, beating the previous record for 2024 – which was 882 people in June. Since the Labour Party took control of the U.K. government in July, 13,038 migrants have entered the U.K.

Labour says it is hoping to bring down migration and lessen reliance on overseas workers by addressing skills shortages and improving wages among Britain’s workers. Another goal Labour has is to enforce penalties for employers who fail to prevent abuse of the visa system.

The Conservative Party’s answer to the issue has been the Illegal Migration Act (IMA), which gives the home secretary powers to jail almost all those aboard the boats and move them to East Africa.

The IMA Act has failed to take off since it passed in July 2023, because there isn’t enough space to detain the tens of thousands who qualify.
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Pro-Putin media simulates nuclear strike on London

September 24, 2024
A simulated nuclear strike on London has been broadcast by a pro-Putin TV channel. The visuals of the simulation show how the blast would claim 850,000 lives and leave millions of casualties.

The four-minute video was shown on a propaganda channel in Russia as the U.K. debates whether or not to allow Ukraine’s military to use long-range missiles against Russia in its own territory.

The TV network is owned by Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Known as the “Orthodox oligarch,” due to his ties with the Russian church, the Malofeev Network originally aired the video three months ago, but footage has been recycled to intensify psychological pressure on Britain.

The video’s narrator details a nuclear bomb striking the heart of London, and while it is just a digital simulation, it’s meant to be disturbing. It begins with an explosion over Westminster, followed by a massive fireball and mushroom cloud rising over the city.

Iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Shard and other cultural sites are shown to be obliterated by the blast. The video then concludes by highlighting the inadequacy of London’s hospitals to cope with such a disaster.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to assert its right to respond to Russian missile attacks on its territory. This all comes on the heels of another troubling development, Russia’s test of a “doomsday” nuclear missile.

However, the launch ended in total failure, with a massive explosion destroying much of the testing site in northern Russia.
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Putin threatens war with NATO if Ukraine strikes deep into Russia

September 13, 2024
Vladimir Putin says Russia would be “at war” with the United States and its allies if they allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles to strike deep inside Russia. Putin described such a move as “an act of war.”

This warning comes just hours before a crucial meeting in Washington between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden. The discussion will focus on whether Ukraine should be permitted to use long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russia.

In an interview with reporters Thursday, Sept. 12, Putin emphasized that allowing Ukraine to use these advanced Western weapons would imply direct NATO involvement in the conflict.

“We are talking about deciding whether NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not,” Putin said. “This will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia. And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us.”

Putin also added that Ukrainian forces lack the capability to operate these missiles independently, relying instead on NATO personnel for targeting and satellite data.

The U.S. military already provides intelligence to Ukraine and has previously assisted in targeting, but it says it has not helped with any long-range systems currently being considered.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced the seriousness of Putin’s message, stating that it was “extremely clear, unambiguous and does not allow for any double readings.”

This latest threat is part of a broader Kremlin strategy that frames the conflict as a clash with the West and NATO. The specifics of Moscow’s potential counteractions remain uncertain.

This is not the only major escalation this week. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently announced that Russia has received new ballistic missiles from Iran, which the U.S. believes could be used against Ukraine.

Currently, Western allies are only allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to target areas along the Russian border, and only in retaliation for Russian attacks. Kyiv has been pushing for a policy change to allow strikes on deeper military targets inside Russia. This issue will take center stage as President Biden meets with the British prime minister to discuss their options.
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