The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, has called for stronger protections for UK democracy after it emerged that Elon Musk's family foundation funded a trip to Russia for far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Davey described Robinson as a 'useful idiot for a hostile state' and questioned the motives of those involved.
Details of the Moscow Visit
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was brought to Russia by Errol Musk, Elon Musk's father, according to an interview with the Guardian. The trip was covered by the Musk Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Elon Musk and his brother Kimbal. During the visit, Robinson appeared in Moscow and issued calls for supporters to take to the streets after a knife attack in Belfast. He shared video of himself in a luxury Moscow hotel with Errol Musk.
Errol Musk stated, 'I brought him out to Russia,' adding that both men held meetings with Russian business figures. Topics included Russia's efforts to address declining birth rates, with Errol Musk noting, 'Tommy really got into these meetings.'
Political Reactions
Ed Davey said: 'Tommy Robinson is a useful idiot for a hostile state. What kind of so-called British patriot jets to Moscow to rub shoulders with Putin’s cronies, bankrolled by a US trillionaire? We must protect our democracy from far-right thugs, shady tech bros and foreign interference.'
The Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor added: 'Elon Musk is hostile to British values and we must break our addiction to his hateful algorithm.'
Broader Context of Russian Links
The visit coincides with the Kremlin's efforts to forge ties with European far-right figures. During the same period, Russia hosted self-styled misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, who posted footage of themselves firing weapons and riding in a tank with Russian military. Police in Britain stopped Robinson and seized his phones upon his return.
Errol Musk, who has previously attended a Kremlin-backed economic forum in St Petersburg, described Robinson as a 'fine young man' and 'very hotheaded, but at the same time, he’s learning.' Errol Musk holds pro-Russian views on the Ukraine conflict, believing Moscow has a 'genetic advantage' over the West.
Implications for UK Policy
The incident has raised questions about UK authorities' continued use of X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced it will stop using the platform because it 'now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate.'
Matthew Ford, a security expert at the Swedish Defence University, wrote on Bluesky: 'The owner of X and friend of the president of our No 1 ally pays to send an extremist English nationalist to Russia to collude against British democracy.' He questioned how new policies can prevent 'ostensibly friendly foreign actors from subverting British democracy without appearing to validate the free-speech arguments they weaponise to resist regulation.'
