By Dave Burke

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Definat Sir Ed Davey says he is not worried that world’s richest man Elon Musk might sue him after he branded him a “criminal”. The Lib Dem leader called for X owner Musk to be investigated claiming his platform does not protect children. Asked if he wanted to retract his remark, Sir Ed told Sky News “no”. Party chief executive Mike Dixon has reportedly been in talks with lawyers after making the comment on TV on Sunday. Sir Ed denied prejudicing the courts and said: “If he … sues me, let’s see how he fares, because I don’t think he’ll win.” And one of the party’s most senior MPs said the Lib Dems will deal with any legal challenges “in due course”. But Calum Miller, the Lib Dem foreign affairs chief, said the party would not be “cowed” by Musk. Mr Miler told reporters: “I’m afraid that, as with most legal advice, it was confidential to the client, so I’m not aware of it. “But, look, Ed put some strong language out yesterday about Elon Musk, which reflects our real concern about what’s happening on X and the kind of damage that some of the content could be doing to young people around the world . “If Elon Musk is threatened by that, then we will deal with it in due course. I don’t think we’re going to be cowed by Elon Musk threatening Ed or any other member of this party when there is a criticism that is justified.” On Sunday Sir Ed demanded the world’s richest man is hauled up in front of Parliament after making incendiary remarks at a Tommy Robinson-organised rally. The tech boss has been heavily criticised after saying right-wingers must “fight” or “die” and claiming violence is coming in Britain. If Sir Ed is successful, Musk would be the first non-MP to suffer the humiliation fate in more than 60 years. Asked if the billionaire is a criminal, the Lib Dem leader said: “Yes. “Not just because of the awful things he’s done, inciting violence, for example, he says a civil war in our country is inevitable, that our democratically elected Government should be overthrown. They were bad enough. “But on his platform, there are examples of adverts pushing people on self-harm, on grooming, even selling videos showing paedophile acts, child sex abuse acts. “I think he should be held to account for them. Him personally and his business.” He revealed his party will file a motion calling for Mr Musk to be summoned to appear before MPs under an obscure Parliamentary rule last used in 1957. Sir Ed wants Musk to stand on the floor of the House of Commons to be publicly criticised for his disturbing influence on British politics. Musk would have to stand at the bar – a white line beyond which non-MPs cannot pass when the Commons is sitting – if Sir Ed is successful. It would make him the first person since journalist John Junor, who was forced to apologise for an article deemed in contempt of Parliament. In a speech at the party conference on Tuesday, Sir Ed is expected to say: “We know why Elon Musk is so keen to meddle in our democracy. “It’s not because he cares about the British people, and our rights and our freedoms. It’s all about his ego, power and wealth. He rails against the Online Safety Act, but not because he cares about free speech. “Like so many on the far-right – or the far-left – Elon Musk doesn’t really believe in free speech. He just believes in free speech for people who agree with him. “It’s because he wants to carry on running his social media platform without taking any responsibility for the terrible harm it is causing – especially to our children.”