Elon Musk’s ‘civil war’ riots comment explained and chances of conflict escalating in UK – experts

Billionaire businessman Elon Musk has been slammed for claiming ‘civil war is inevitable’ in the UK as far-right thugs spread violence and chaos across towns and cities

The billionaire, who is CEO of Tesla and owner of X, has clashed with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over his incendiary comment on the riots in the UK. In recent days, far-right thugs have targeted mosques and hotels housing refugees and asylum seekers after misinformation was spread online about the identity of the Southport attacker.

The businessman, 53, is one of the latest to get involved in the discussion as he remarked that “civil war is inevitable” on X, in response to a video showing people aiming fireworks at police. The PM’s spokesman said there was “no justification” for his comment and there is more that social media sites like Musk’s “can and should be doing” to stop the chaos.

The billionaire businessman claimed a war within the UK is ‘inevitable’ but historians have explained otherwise (Image:

Getty Images)

The No10 spokesman said on Monday: “There’s no justification for comments like that and what we’ve seen in this country is organised violent thuggery that has no place on our streets or online.” Musk then responded to a post by the PM which said the Government will “not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities”, and said: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Ex-Tory Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart reacted to the business mogul on X and said: “Seriously? Since when have you claimed to understand British communities or British politics? Exactly how many days have you spent with these communities? Does it ever occur to you that this might perhaps be the wrong time to sound off about a subject you know nothing about?” No10 has not responded to the latest comment.

Civil war – a war between citizens of the same country – is now part of the online discussion around the riots. The country’s biggest civil war happened in 1642 when a dispute between the King of England, Charles I, and the English Parliament escalated. The conflict finally came to an end in 1651, two years after Charles was defeated and put on trial for treason. In 1922, the Irish Civil War followed the Irish War of Independence and lasted almost a whole year.

In the present day, the UK has a completely different political culture and armed workforce, meaning it is very unlikely a civil war would break out. As British historian Robert Tombs wrote for The Spectator: “Nowadays, a spontaneous uprising has no chance against police forces, let alone against armies. Governments today have to worry not about being defeated by rebels, but about not hurting or killing too many of them.”

Mr Tombs said “what protects democracies is that they listen and respond”, but noted that while a civil war is “unimaginable in any foreseeable circumstances”, he said, “widespread and recurring civil disorder is all too possible”. Meanwhile, Brad Evans, a British academic and Professor of Political Violence at the University of Bath, argues it “would be foolish to write it off” and to naively believe the UK is “too civilised to ever let that happen”.

He wrote on UnHerd: “Thankfully, Britain is not an armed society, and its violence is mostly contained. But that shouldn’t mean that can’t change.” Mr Evans highlighted a blurred line between civil tensions and war, and added: “The potential for civil war is written into the DNA of all ethnic conflicts – and, like a sleeping demon, once its fires are lit there’s no knowing where it will spread.” For this reason, it’s important authorities clamp down on the thuggery.

Government Minister Heidi Alexander echoed the narrative that all prominent figures in the UK “should be calling for calm”. She told LBC radio on Tuesday morning that Musk’s remarks were “totally unjustifiable” and said: “We have got police officers being seriously injured on our streets. People are looting buildings. They’re setting buildings alight, and for someone who has a big platform, a large following, to be exercising that power in such an irresponsible way, I think is actually pretty unconscionable.”

Ms Alexander added: “I think everyone at the moment should be calling for calm. We have to find a way to tackle this disorder that we’re seeing on our streets and in our communities. We will have, and continue to have, a robust police response. There will be swift and effective justice, but all individuals who have a platform should be behaving responsibly.” Police are currently gearing up for further disorder with more potential events planned for Wednesday night.