A bilingual sign at Whitechapel Station in London has sparked debate, with UK MP Rupert Lowe calling for exclusive English signage. The Great Yarmouth MP shared a photo of the English and Bengali sign on X, criticizing the use of multiple languages. His remarks gained attention, drawing a supportive response from tech mogul Elon Musk, who simply commented, "Yes."
Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, shared a photo of the bilingual sign at Whitechapel Station on his official X account, stating: "This is London- the station name should be in English, and English only." Lowe, a member of Reform UK, made the remark on Sunday, prompting widespread discussion online.
His post quickly went viral, attracting a response from tech mogul Elon Musk, who commented with a simple "Yes." Musk, a notable figure aligned with former US President Donald Trump, had recently suggested that Nigel Farage should be replaced as the leader of Reform UK, seeming to endorse Lowe's stance.
Musk has previously sought to influence British politics and has criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer repeatedly since anti-immigration riots last summer. He backed calls for a national inquiry into the handling of cases of rape by men of Pakistani heritage of underage girls by the government's prosecution service which Starmer previously ran.
Some social media users echoed Lowe's sentiment, while others defended the multilingual signs. The Bengali signage, introduced in 2022, honors the significant contributions of the Bangladeshi community in East London. This initiative, funded by Tower Hamlets Council, aims to celebrate the area's rich cultural diversity.
Home to the UK's largest Bangladeshi community, Whitechapel showcases this cultural recognition. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lauded the move on X, highlighting the global importance of the Bengali language and advocating for cultural unity among the diaspora. "It is a victory of our culture and heritage," she noted.