On 3 July 2026, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy posted what would be her final message on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk. She announced that she and her Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) were quitting the platform, calling it “not healthy for our democracy or our communities”. Her departure is part of a growing trend among UK government bodies and MPs, who cite concerns over misinformation, abuse, and the platform’s direction under Musk. But not everyone agrees—Downing Street says it will continue to use X, and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Nandy of “running away”. So what is driving this split, and what does it mean for how the government communicates?
The basics are straightforward: the DCMS has become the second government department to stop posting on X, following the attorney general’s office, which left in June 2026. Attorney General Lord Hermer defended his decision by telling MPs that X “constantly descends to racism and misogyny” and that his department “can do better”. Other MPs, including Liberal Democrats Layla Moran and Vikki Slade and Labour’s Darren Paffey, had already left X earlier in 2026 after reports that the platform’s AI tool, Grok, was being used to create sexualised images, including of children. X has said it will treat anyone using Grok for illegal content the same as if they uploaded it directly.
“Explains why UK government departments are quitting X over misinformation and abuse”
The background to these departures lies in growing tensions between the UK government and X’s owner, Elon Musk. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Musk of using his platform to “whip up division” in the UK, particularly around the murder of student Henry Nowak. Violent protests broke out in Southampton after bodycam footage showed police handcuffing the 18-year-old as he lay dying; Musk criticised the police treatment of the teenager. Nandy, in her final post, said X “originally designed for free speech and expression now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate”. The platform has faced repeated criticism over its content moderation policies since Musk took over in 2022.
Why does this matter for UK readers? Government departments use social media to share official information, public health advice, and emergency updates. If more departments leave X, it could change how the public receives official communications. For now, Downing Street has said it keeps its use of social media “under review” and that each minister and department can decide for themselves. A No 10 spokesperson said the government’s “full focus remains on making sure X is following the law, cleaning up its act and ensuring it is safe for women, girls, children and people right across the country”. Meanwhile, Nandy said she would continue to use Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn—suggesting a shift toward other platforms rather than a total retreat from social media.
Q: Is the entire UK government leaving X? No. Only the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the attorney general’s office have stopped using X. Downing Street and other departments have said they will continue to use the platform, with No 10 calling it a matter for individual ministers.
Q: Why did Lisa Nandy leave X? She said X “isn’t healthy for our democracy or our communities” and that it “now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate”. Her decision followed similar moves by MPs who were concerned about the platform’s AI tool Grok being used to generate sexualised images.
Q: Did the government give any warning? The attorney general’s office left first, in June 2026. Lord Hermer told MPs his department “can do better” and did not need to be on a platform that “constantly descends to racism and misogyny”. So the decision by DCMS was not without precedent.
What happens next? Other ministers may follow Nandy’s lead, but Downing Street has given no indication that it plans to leave X. The government says it will continue to monitor the platform’s compliance with UK law. X has said it prohibits illegal content and will enforce its rules. For now, the government’s social media presence is fragmented, with some departments present on X and others choosing alternative channels. The debate over whether public bodies should stay on platforms they consider harmful is unlikely to fade soon.