The language and style of British Conservatism is now taken directly from the fact-free world of online conspiracy

Things can only get worse, as Musk-Trumpery continues to invade British politics. The outrageous smears and falsehoods – Elon Musk posted 200 times on X about “grooming gangs” in three days – included the claim that Keir Starmer is “hiding terrible things”.

The era when the Conservatives were able to pass themselves off as the “respectable” party is thoroughly gone, banished along with its final upholders – former MPs such as Dominic Grieve and David Gauke. Back then, the ketamine-addled ravings of a foreign mega-billionaire might have been politely sidestepped, not eagerly echoed by the Tory leader who has now accused the prime minister of refusing another inquiry into sexual abuse gangs because he “doesn’t want questions asked of Labour politicians who may be complicit”. Remember, Kemi Badenoch last year called herself a “huge fan” of Musk. The factcheck-free world of Meta, Musk, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage is now the language of British Conservatism.