In a significant break from tradition, the Attorney General for England and Wales, Richard Hermer, has ordered his department to cease all activity on X, formally known as Twitter. This decision marks the first time a sitting UK government minister has completely abandoned the platform, signaling a major fissure in the relationship between the British government and Elon Musk’s social media network.
The move was reportedly prompted by concerns regarding the platform’s role in facilitating disinformation and inciting real-world violence. Specifically, officials pointed to the recent civil unrest in Southampton and Belfast, where, according to the Attorney General’s office, the X platform was used to organize and propagate racist incidents.
For the Attorney General, whose mandate centers on the impartial enforcement of the law and the protection of public interests, maintaining an official presence on a platform linked to such radicalization became untenable. The department concluded that continuing to operate on X stood in direct contradiction to its foundational mission to serve the public good.
This departure creates a delicate political dynamic for the Labour government, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintains an active personal account on the platform. The discrepancy between the Attorney General’s total boycott and the Prime Minister’s ongoing presence underscores the growing internal friction regarding how the government should interact with a platform managed by Mr. Musk.
Tensions have been further exacerbated by Elon Musk’s recent public behavior, which includes frequent, aggressive demands for Prime Minister Starmer’s resignation and overt support for far-right political factions. Government agencies increasingly view X not as a neutral communications tool, but as a deliberate conduit for extremism and political polarization, suggesting that the patience of senior officials is nearing a breaking point.
As the government continues to weigh its options, this high-profile exit may serve as a precursor to more severe regulatory interventions. Officials have previously hinted that a total ban on X could be considered if recommended by the media regulator, Ofcom. With the government already taking aim at Musk’s AI-driven chatbot, Grok, and implementing stricter social media policies for minors, the decision by the Attorney General reflects a broader, hardened stance toward challenging the platform’s unchecked influence.