ReutersElon Musk’s attack on the government’s handling of grooming gangs is “misconceived and certainly misinformed”, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said.
Tech multi-billionaire Musk has posted a series of messages on his social media site X, accusing Sir Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute gangs who systematically groom and rape young girls. Rape, and calls for minister Jace Phillips to be jailed.
Asked about his comments, Stretting said “this government takes the issue of child sexual exploitation incredibly seriously”.
He invited Musk to “roll up his sleeves and work with us” against gang-rapes.
The Tories have also criticized Musk for “sharing things that are factually incorrect”.
While visiting a care home in Carlisle On Friday, Streeting said Labor was “fully engaged” in implementing the recommendations of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay.
He told reporters: “Some of the criticisms that Elon Musk has made I think are misguided and certainly misinformed.
“But we’re willing to work with Elon Musk who I think has a big role to play with his social media platform to help us and other countries deal with these serious issues.
“If he wants to work with us and roll up his sleeves, we would welcome him.”
Musk, a key adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, has accused Sir Kerr of failing to properly prosecute rap gangs while director of public prosecutions (DPP), and Reform UK and Conservative M Pease has repeatedly retweeted calls for a national investigation.
He also suggested security “deserves to be in jail” after being rejected by minister Jess Phillips. Application for the Home Office to order a public inquiry into child sexual abuse in Oldham. He said the council should instead hold a local inquiry, as was done in Rotherham and Telford.
The decision was criticized by several senior Tories, despite the previous Conservative government rejecting a similar application in 2022.
Tory leader Cammy Badenoch has called for a full national public inquiry. In what he called Britain’s “rape gang scandal”.
But the party has also criticized Musk for “sharing things that are factually incorrect” and distanced itself from its call for Phillips to be jailed.
Alicia Kearns — who overshadows Phillips as conservative spokeswoman on reservations — told BBC Radio 5 Live Musk “fell” to sharing things on his X platform “without critically examining” them.
He accused Musk of “distracting attention from survivors and victims” of gang-rapes and “lionizing people. [far-right activist] Tommy Robinson – who is obviously dangerous”.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform Britain told the BBC That Musk, the world’s richest man, is talking about donating to the party. The two men met last month at Trump’s Florida retreat.
J. Inquiry
There have been several investigations into the organized rape of girls and young women by organized gangs, including in Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire and Bristol.
Greater Manchester Police is also being investigated into its handling of historic incidents of child sexual abuse in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale.
Earlier on Friday, Health Secretary Andrew Gwynne suggested that Musk should “focus on US politics”, where he is set to serve as an unelected adviser to the Trump administration on federal spending cuts.
Speaking to LBC radio, Gwen added that child rearing was a “very serious issue”, referring to previous investigations into sex abuse scandals.
“There comes a point where we don’t need to ask anymore, and if Elon Musk really paid attention to what’s going on in this country, he might have recognized that already,” he said. The inquiry has been done.”
gave Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation (IICSA), which published its final report in 2022, described child sexual abuse as an epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its toxicity.
This It conducted its own investigation as well as several previous inquiries.
Professor Jay said in November that she felt “disappointed” that none of her report’s 20 recommendations to tackle abuse had been implemented more than two years later.
He said: “This is a difficult subject, but it is important that there is some public understanding of it.
“But the only thing we can do is put pressure on the government to look at the provision of all this.
“It doesn’t need more consultation, it doesn’t need more research or discussion, it just needs to be done.”