'Don't pour gas on the fire!' Labour issued stark Elon Musk warning after launching counter-extremism probe
WATCH NOW: Oscar Reddrop says the government should be 'wary of getting into a scrap' with Musk
GB News
A former adviser to Boris Johnson has warned Labour against escalating tensions with Elon Musk after it emerged that a UK counter-extremism unit is monitoring the tech billionaire's social media posts.
Oscar Reddrop told GB News that Labour risks pouring "gas on the Elon Musk fire" by confronting one of the "world's most influential advocates of free speech".
A Home Office source has confirmed to GB News the department's counter-extremism team has intensified surveillance of Musk's posts on X amid growing concerns over their potential impact on British security.
The monitoring has escalated following Musk's controversial posts about the grooming gangs scandal and his criticism of Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, labelling her a "rape genocide apologist" and calling for her imprisonment.
Labour has been warned to avoid pouring 'gas on the fire' with Elon Musk, after enlisting a counter-terrorism team to examine the billionaire's posts
Reuters / PA
Reddrop questioned the Labour Government's priorities in focusing on monitoring online content rather than addressing public concerns.
"If you want to start censoring one of the most influential and powerful advocates of free speech, who's already causing you all manner of trouble, then good luck to you," he told GB News.
Reddrop predicted that Musk would likely "escalate" his attacks if confronted by the Government.
He warned: "My prediction would be he would inevitably catch wind of this, and does the Government think that he's going to take a step back?
The tech billionaire's recent barrage of attacks on the Labour Government and senior politicians has prompted increased surveillance from the Home Office's counter-extremism teamGetty"He will go for them again and again and will probably go a lot harder as well, and that is causing real problems for the Labour Government at the moment."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
He highlighted public perception as a key concern, noting that people struggle to reconcile intensive social media policing with ongoing community issues like grooming gangs.
Reddrop explained: "Firstly, Britons will see a warped sense of priority in terms of the Home Office spending more time monitoring online content and people expressing opinions, no matter how probably distasteful they can be at times.
"Secondly, strategically, the thing I don't quite understand, I really don't understand is if you're Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, you don't want to pour any gas on any of Elon Musk's fire."
Despite his criticism of Labour's approach, Reddrop acknowledged that Musk's comments about Jess Phillips were "completely wrong" and "completely uncalled for".
Reddrop told GB News that Labour must be 'wary' of aggravating Musk
GB News
He emphasised the delicate balance the Government must strike in addressing the situation.
He stated: "What he said about Jess Phillips was wrong. It was it was completely, completely uncalled for and wrong.
"But the Government should be very, very wary about getting into a scrap with him because it's a real balancing act.
"People do see the policing of online tweets and social media, and then at the same time, they see their communities go through things like we've seen with these grooming gangs, and that doesn't stack up for people."
You may like
