Piers Morgan and Tommy Robinson trade insults after massive UK rallies as Elon Musk sparks outrage

The war of words between Piers Morgan and Tommy Robinson has escalated after huge demonstrations across the UK at the weekend.

Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally on Saturday drew crowds said to be between 110,000 and 150,000, with around 5,000 anti-racism campaigners staging a counter-protest. The far-right figure, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley, used the event to call for Parliament to be dissolved in his latest attack on Keir Starmer’s Government, reported the Mirror.

Former Good Morning Britain host Piers, 60, weighed in on social media afterwards, posting an aerial shot of the packed streets. On X, he wrote: “To condemn all these people who attended yesterday’s @TRobinsonNewEra as far-right thugs is false. Just as it’s false to say they were all a bunch of angelic choristers. Many were there because they genuinely care about their country, failed immigration policies and free speech.”

Robinson fired back, accusing Piers of “riding the wave”. He reposted the comment and fumed: “Don’t try riding the wave you w**ker @piersmorgan. People like you made it impossible for people to speak out with your baseless labels ‘racist’ ‘Islamophobe’ ‘far right’ you have been part of the problem not the solution.”

Piers snapped back: “Pipe down, Bottle Job. You’re not a wave I ever want to ride.” He then added a challenge: “But if you grow a pair, I’m still up for doing the interview you keep ducking.”

The rallies also drew global attention when Elon Musk appeared on a big screen with a message. The tech billionaire told the crowd that “violence is coming” to the UK, sparking widespread criticism for what were branded inflammatory remarks.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the comments were “slightly incomprehensible” and “totally inappropriate”. He added: “But what we saw yesterday was over 100,000 people who were expressing freedom of association, freedom of speech, and proving that both of those things are alive and well in this country. A small minority of people who are protesting committed acts of violence against our police for which they should and they will be held accountable.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the violent clashes that broke out during the demonstrations. She promised tough action, saying: “Anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law.”

The weekend’s scenes highlighted just how polarising Robinson’s rallies have become, with huge numbers turning out on both sides and political heavyweights now being dragged into the fallout.