‘Misjudged and certainly misinformed’: UK minister reacts to Elon Musk’s criticism of Oldham grooming scandal

Streeting further extended an olive branch and emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing child exploitation, stating, “If [Musk] wants to work with us and roll his sleeves up, we’d welcome that.”

Grooming gangs

In the early hours of New Year’s Eve, Elon Musk shared posts condemning the UK government for allegedly mishandling the issue of “Pakistani-ancestry grooming gangs,” a 2013 case in Oxford, saying, “The government officials responsible…need to [be] fired in shame.”

He has particularly targeted Starmer, accusing him of failing to address what he called “rape gangs” during Starmer’s tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (2008-2013). Musk described the scandals as a “massive crime against humanity.”

Musk also questioned why far-right activist Tommy Robinson, jailed for contempt of court, faced harsher treatment than some convicted rapists.

Robinson is currently serving an 18-month custodial sentence for contempt of court after breaching an injunction by repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee. The billionaire Tesla owner questioned the fairness of the legal system, tweeting, “Why are rapists given suspended sentences in the UK, but this guy gets 18 months in solitary confinement, despite doing nothing violent?” A series of similarly critical tweets from Musk followed.

Later, GB News reported that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips had rejected a call for a public inquiry into grooming allegations in Oldham. Musk called this “shameful” and accused Starmer of involvement in a cover-up, without providing evidence.

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader and former cabinet minister, joined the debate, calling for an overdue inquiry, while it emerged that the previous Conservative government had also refused one.

“Trials have taken place all over the country in recent years but no one in authority has joined the dots,” she said.

The government maintains that Oldham should commission its own inquiry, similar to other towns. A 2022 report on safeguarding measures in Oldham between 2011 and 2014 revealed failures by local agencies but concluded there was no cover-up, despite fears of far-right exploitation of the case.

Musk has taken a strong interest in UK politics since the Labour Party’s landslide victory in July 2024. He has retweeted criticisms of Starmer and supported claims of “two-tier policing,” suggesting disparities in how authorities handle protests by different groups. He has also likened UK efforts to combat online misinformation to Soviet-style censorship and described the current political climate as a precursor to “civil war.”

Musk has reportedly expressed interest in financially backing Reform UK, a right-wing party led by Nigel Farage, with a £100 million investment. Farage, a staunch ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, aligns with Musk’s criticisms of the Labour government.

Musk’s determination to put a plague on both the Tory and Labour houses may well become a pressing problem for Starmer and Badenoch in 2025. “Britain needs Reform now,” Musk tweeted on 2 January.

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