The Royal Society has ruled out rescinding Elon Musk¡¯s membership of the academy over controversial comments made at an anti-immigration rally.

Deliberations over the world¡¯s richest man¡¯s continued membership of the learned society followed a speech at a rally organised by the far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson on 14 September. Speaking via video link, the Tesla and Space X boss told the crowd that ¡°massive uncontrolled immigration¡± was leading to the ¡°destruction of Britain¡±, adding that ¡°violence is coming to you¡± and ¡°you either fight back or you die¡±.

That led the Royal Society president to write to fellows to inform them that the body¡¯s governing council would discuss the matter on 1 October. Previously, it had decided?not to pursue sanctions against Musk, who is worth $500 billion (?379 billion), over offensive comments made about Labour MP Jess Phillips and his controversial role in spearheading massive cuts to US while head of the US Department for Government Efficiency.

In a issued after the meeting on 1 October, Royal Society president Adrian Smith explained that the ¡°council believes that it is not the role of the Royal Society to police the personal political opinions of individual fellows and disciplinary procedures should not be initiated because of a fellow¡¯s social and political views¡±.

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¡°However, the society can and will criticise fellows who act in a way that runs counter to the values of tolerance, courtesy and respect for others that allow science to flourish,¡± Smith continued.

¡°Elon Musk¡¯s contribution to the ¡®Unite the Kingdom¡¯ rally is an example of a growing tendency towards the use of the language of violence, and narratives of division and polarisation. This language and these narratives threaten the values that enable science to thrive and the Royal Society rejects them, from wherever they originate,¡± he said.

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Smith explained that he was ¡°increasingly concerned over threats to the values that allow science to flourish¡± and had led a discussion of the Royal Society¡¯s council ¡°regarding some of those threats¡±.

However, it was important to note that ¡°science thrives when individuals and institutions have the freedom to carry out research without fear of discrimination, censorship, or other restrictions that would hinder their work¡±, he said.

The decision not to expel Musk from the Royal Society led to criticism from academics on social media, while Labour MP Ben Goldsborough ?that?the decision represented ¡°an organisation turning a blind eye to political violence¡±.

¡°Their response bends over backwards to avoid confronting a clear breach of the values they claim to uphold,¡± said Goldsborough, who is MP for South Norfolk.

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¡°The Royal Society must think again,¡± ?he continued. ¡°This is not about politics: it is about the safety of our fellow citizens and the credibility of our democratic culture. Anything less than decisive action undermines trust in one of our most respected scientific institutions,¡± he added.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com