Elon Musk's Controversial Comments on Grooming Gangs Prompt Response from UK Officials

Elon Musk has sparked controversy with his remarks regarding the UK government’s handling of grooming gangs, asserting that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute these criminal networks effectively. In response, Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized Musk’s statements as “misjudged and certainly misinformed” and invited him to collaborate on efforts to combat child sexual exploitation. Musk’s remarks included a suggestion that safeguarding minister Jess Phillips should be jailed, after she advocated for local inquiries into child sexual exploitation rather than a national investigation. While several Tory leaders have echoed the call for national inquiries, they admonished Musk for circulating potentially inaccurate claims that could detract from victims’ experiences. Notably, a recent police report indicated that group-based child sexual abuse constituted only a small percentage of overall child sexual offenses, with investigations ongoing into numerous cases across the UK. Streeting emphasized Labour’s commitment to implementing recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which has faced delays in action from the government. Critics, including Greater Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham, warned against politicizing the issue, advocating for focused and effective responses instead.