‘Can I just say, he’s a t***.’ The taxi driver leans backwards and interjects into our conversation about one of Elon Musk’s latest forays into UK politics. Musk, he makes short shrift of explaining, should keep his beak out.
We’ve just arrived in a North-East coastal town, where we will be spending the next few days conducting dozens of in-depth interviews with locals to find out what they think about a range of topics. None of these are pre-arranged as we find it useful to speak to people in their natural environments: the pub, local coffee shop or workplace etc. What we found on this trip is an unexpected opportunity for Keir Starmer.
Standing up to Musk properly will show beleaguered voters a strength of leadership they are desperate to see
We weren’t there to ask people what they thought of Musk, but he kept on coming up. He’s definitely cut through.
Stepping into a shop to escape the freezing temperatures, a man is asked to consider how the government is doing, but he quickly pivots to Musk: ‘He should mind his own business shouldn’t he?’ Again and again, we heard the same thing; another was red-faced as he explained, ‘If we started going after American politicians there would be uproar. He’s not even a politician, that’s what gets me.’
This view was shared across the political spectrum, with voters taking personal umbrage with Musk’s barbs. This was not felt any less among both existing voters, and the new types of voters Reform hope to win over. In fact, these were often the people that expressed the view in the strongest terms.
There was no mention of the rumoured $100 million (£80 million) the tech mogul may theoretically donate to the party. While they unsurprisingly hold a dim view of Starmer – the politest assessment here came from one person who called him ‘the wrong bloke in the wrong job’ – patriotic voters take no pleasure in seeing their prime minister kicked about by an American billionaire. So far, the Prime Minister has stopped short of taking Musk’s continual interjections into UK politics head on, even as the attacks have become increasingly personal.
The grooming gangs debate currently roaring through Westminster is the latest triggered by Musk. But rather than credit him for drawing attention to the issue, voters find his meddling irritating. After all, it is worth noting that for many people in these types of towns grooming gangs have long been considered an issue, and they see the prominent ally of Trump’s intervention as opportunistic.
Polling over the weekend has shown that Musk’s comments are overwhelmingly not welcomed by the British public. What we have found is that even among the types of working-class voters who are naturally sympathetic to Reform, Musk is disliked. Far from enjoying his constant baiting of the Starmer, they want him to stop.
Things could shift. If Musk keeps pushing buttons on issues that the British public support, in the future they may grow fonder of him. But for now, the opposite is happening.
This creates a rare opportunity for Starmer. Working-class voters constantly moan that he is a weak leader, lacking the strength and charisma for the job. Standing up to Musk properly, not with diplomatic statements or coded attacks on misinformation, but by in no uncertain terms telling him to worry about his own country, will show beleaguered voters a strength of leadership they are desperate to see. While it is true that the majority of these voters do want to see an inquiry – and it’s unclear how Yvette Cooper’s announcement of a review will land with them – standing up to Musk and claiming some credit for doing so, is better than quietly battening down the hatches and only further entrenching voters’ damp view of the Prime Minister.
To his credit, it’s worth remembering that Starmer has form here. His ruthless purge of Corbyn was critical in winning over sceptical centrist voters at the start of his leadership and showed a strength which has rarely been seen since. Now he can show the same qualities with voters enticed by Reform.
There will surely be a temptation here to play the long game – anyone will tell you that in all likelihood Musk and Trump’s relationship will blow up spectacularly and chances are Starmer will be the last man standing. But if the Prime Minister waits till Musk implodes the chance will be gone. Cooper’s review into grooming gangs has given Starmer the platform and space to push back. If you go now, you’re standing up for Britain; wait for him to fail, you’re just as opportunistic as he is. The British public are much more attune to these things than they are given credit for.
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