Why is Elon Musk attacking Keir Starmer over the grooming gang scandal? Will there be an investigation?

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Billionaire and X owner Elon Musk has attacked Sir Keir Starmer and the Labor government over their response to recruitment gangs in the UK.

Pressure on the First Minister has increased after Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips denied requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming in Oldham.

The tech billionaire unleashed an attack on the government on Thursday when he suggested Ms Phillips “deserves to be in prison”.

He also appeared to shift the blame to Starmer, arguing that “rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice” during Sir Keir’s time as director of public prosecutions.

Since the Tesla boss published his claims about X, several high-profile figures, including conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, have also spoken out calling for a full investigation into the sexual abuse.

Here’s what we know about why Keir Starmer is under fire over the grooming gang scandal and whether there will be an investigation:

Why did the fuss start?

Criticism began after Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips formally denied requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming in Oldham.

Phillips said he recognized the “strength of feeling” over a Home Office-led investigation but told the local council the Government would not “intervene”.

“I think it is solely for Oldham Council to decide to commission an investigation into child sexual exploitation at a local level, rather than the Government intervening,” he said.

Instead of the Government leading an inquiry, Oldham should follow in the footsteps of other towns such as Rotherham and Telford and commission its own inquiry into historical child abuse, Phillips said in a letter to the local council.

The last Conservative government also rejected a similar request from Oldham council for a public inquiry, saying it was up to local authorities to commission local investigations.

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What have been the criticisms?

Responding to Phillip’s decision, Musk, a key member of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle, said: “She deserves to be in prison.”

The businessman, owner of X, has used the social media site to post or repost about child bullying in the UK more than 40 times in the last 24 hours.

He appeared to blame Sir Keir for the scandal and argued that “rape gangs were allowed to exploit girls without facing justice” during Sir Keir’s time as director of public prosecutions.

Musk said: “In the UK, serious crimes such as rape require approval from the Crown Prosecution Service for police to charge suspects.

“Who was the head of the CPS when rapist gangs were allowed to exploit girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.”

In a series of posts on his social media site, Musk described the Prime Minister as “two-tier Keir”, stating that “there is no justice for serious and violent crimes, but prison for social media posts.”

Musk also shared a post asking whether King Charles “should dissolve parliament and order a general election… for the good and safety” of Britain.

Senior conservatives also tried to pressure the government to prepare the gangs.

Mrs Badenoch said: “It is long past time for a full national inquiry into the rape gang scandal. Trials have been held across the country in recent years, but no authority has connected the dots.

“2025 must be the year victims start getting justice.”

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How has the government responded?

Asked if Musk’s comments were unhelpful to the government, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told ITV News ministers took child sexual exploitation “incredibly seriously”.

He added: “I think some of the criticism that Elon Musk has made is misjudged and certainly misinformed, but we are willing to work with Elon Musk, who I think has an important role to play with his social media platform to help. us and other countries to address this serious problem. So if you want to work with us and roll up your sleeves, we would appreciate it.”

Andrew Gwynne, a minister who works on Streeting’s health team, had previously taken a firmer stance, suggesting Musk should stick to US politics, where he will act as an unelected adviser to the Trump presidency to cut federal spending.

Gwynne told LBC: “Elon Musk is an American citizen and perhaps he should focus on issues on the other side of the Atlantic.”

After listing the large number of investigations that had been carried out, the minister added: “There comes a point where we don’t need any more investigations, and if Elon Musk had really paid attention to what was happening in this country, he could have recognized that there have already been consultations.”

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Will there be a consultation?

A national inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay concluded in 2022, and investigations have already been carried out into Greater Manchester Police’s handling of historic child sexual abuse cases in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale.

The inquiry examined abuse committed by organized groups following multiple convictions for sexual offenses against children across the UK between 2010 and 2014, including Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Rochdale and Bristol.

In November last year, Professor Jay said she was “frustrated” that none of the inquiry’s 20 recommendations had been implemented more than two years after its conclusion.

Streeting said the Government was committed to implementing the recommendations of Professor Jay’s report “in full”.

The Health Secretary also told the PA news agency that ministers supported an investigation into the Oldham scandal, but said it needed to be carried out locally.

“There very well may be, and we think there are good reasons for further research in specific locations, Oldham being a good and final example.

“We would absolutely encourage Oldham and work with him to establish his own investigations,” he said.