A British Army airborne veteran has warned that the UK is at ‘boiling point’ and on a path that could lead to mayhem on the streets.
Craig Hollman outlined three scenarios that might unfold as a result of the continued protests and unrest, including over the use of migrant hotels.
The former Parachute Regiment soldier, who served in conflict zones across the world with the elite 16th Air Assault brigade, reacted after Elon Musk claimed on X that civil war is ‘inevitable’ in Britain.
Hollman, 36, believes any outright conflict is highly unlikely but there is a chance that social unrest will become a regular feature of life.
Following the riots across the country after the Southport murders, there are the continued migrant hotel protests and a demonstration being organised by Tommy Robinson in London on September 13, along with a counter-rally by anti-racism campaigners.
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The civil war debate was sparked by the billionaire Tesla owner, who claimed it was ‘inevitable’ as he responded on an X post blaming the Southport riots on ‘mass migration and open borders.’
Hollman, who spent 16 years as an elite soldier before launching his Combat Ready HQ brand, is one of the YouTubers who have given their take on the likelihood of a doomsday scenario.
Also having served with the Household Cavalry, his channel aims to ‘bridge the gap between military excellence and civilian aspirations’ and has taken in the role the Army could play on the streets.
The ex-forward observer told Metro: ‘Britain is at boiling point, it feels divided to a point that we have not seen in our lifetimes.
‘There’s migration and small boat crossings, the cost of living, stretched public services, rising crime and a government that seems completely detached from what ordinary people are going through.
‘Because there’s such a huge divide it brings about the heavy question of whether the UK is on the brink of civil war.
‘For some that is ridiculous, they say we are too civilised here, but others look at the riots and anger spilling over in communities and say we are closer to something more serious than we are willing to admit.
‘One tipping point could be a mass casualty terrorist attack conducted by migrants who turned out to be here illegally, but that would be a big if.
‘There are always threats to the UK, and they are always being stopped by the police and security services, so it would depend on whether one got through the net.’
Best case scenario
‘In the best-case scenario, the government takes decisive action, the asylum backlog is cleared, deportations happen more quickly and regularly and the process is fast and fair.
‘Communities that felt abandoned see more policing and better public services, and that eases the pressures.
What did Elon Musk say?
Under an X video of riots in Liverpool, Elon Musk wrote that ‘civil war is inevitable’. The billionaire weighed in after disorder broke out in the aftermath of the Southport triple murders in July 2024.
No10 responded by saying that the ‘minority’ involved ‘do not speak for Britain’ and had committed ‘organised, violent thuggery’. Musk’s post drew 9.9million views, with strong views for and against.
Physicist David Deutsch responded: ‘I suggest keeping a record of this tweet. When it doesn’t happen, draw the lesson, as you often do.’
But Musk’s comment tapped a nerve as protests have continued over the use of hotels to accommodate migrants and the right to display national flags, attracting dozens of reactions on YouTube.
‘People feel their voices are being heard and their identities are respected, and councils stop seeing the English flag as a threat.
‘Britain is bruised but stable, and while divisions remain, no one picks up weapons.’
Most likely scenario
‘The most likely scenario is civil unrest becoming the new normal.
‘Riots and protests become a regular occurrence, with clashes between anti and pro-migrant protesters.
‘Police crackdowns increase, but they only deal with the symptoms of the clashes, not the causes.
‘Communities feel abandoned and flags become a flashpoint, with councils taking down St George’s crosses, fuelling the perception that English identity is under attack while other cultural expressions are left untouched.
‘Extremes grow on the left and right, with both of these being able to pull in frustrated youths, working class communities and even veterans who feel betrayed.
‘It’s a country divided, stuck in a cycle of unrest and division.’
Worst case scenario
‘With the worst-case scenario, there is a major economic crash, soaring unemployment and inflation and at the same time the migration system collapses, with services overwhelmed.
‘The government calls in the Army as the state loses control and militias form, often led by veterans.
‘Little groups start getting hold of weapons like petrol bombs, baseball bats and possibly handguns with some individuals, and the violence escalates.
Clashes on the streets
The Southport murders triggered 10 days of disturbances across Britain. Mob violence broke out in towns and cities, along with misinformation on social media. The epicentre of tensions over migration has since shifted to the Bell Hotel in Essex, where there have been clashes between protestors who want migrants moved on from the accommodation and police. Anti-migrant protestors have also descended on the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf. At one point, dozens of balaclava-clad young men appeared to charge police lines, although the vast majority have made their point peacefully.
‘Businesses and infrastructure are attacked, with police and the Army being deployed.
‘While it’s not the path we are on, there is a high possibility that violence will escalate as the protests continue and the government continues to push back against the Bell Hotel closure order.
‘It only takes one small group to set off the powderkeg.
‘Politicians need to look at themselves as leaders, and they need to listen and speak with the people.
‘It’s all about problem-solving.
‘We need to have a good leader who speaks with the people and is happy to answer questions, be strong against other nations and not be a “yes” person, to say this is what we need to do and we need to go ahead with it.
‘The question is, how far will we let the cracks spread before we demand real change?’
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