British Prime Minister Andy Burnham attends a meeting with Jewish community leaders at Downing Street in London. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

New Delhi:

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has sparked a political storm in the UK by launching a series of controversial posts targeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour government. His comments have reopened discussions around the issue of child grooming gangs, sparking calls for fresh investigations.

Musk’s Allegations Against Starmer

On New Year’s Day, Musk accused Keir Starmer of failing to act decisively on grooming gang cases during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (2008-2013). Musk claimed that Starmer allowed “rape gangs” to exploit vulnerable girls without facing justice, alleging that institutional failures were linked to Starmer’s leadership of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The billionaire also criticised Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister – a position under the UK Home Office, accusing her of covering up for Starmer by rejecting a call for a public inquiry into alleged grooming scandals in Oldham. Musk suggested that Phillips’ decision was politically motivated to shield Starmer, claiming it represented a “cover-up” of systemic failings.

In a series of posts on X, Musk demanded a new national public inquiry and called for the Labour government to face an immediate general election. He went so far as to accuse Phillips of being a “rape genocide apologist”.

The Labour government was quick to dismiss Musk’s remarks, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting labelling them “misjudged and misinformed.” Starmer’s defenders argue that as DPP, he introduced new guidelines in 2013 to better address child sexual exploitation cases. 

Grooming Gang Scandals

The grooming gang scandals have long been a flashpoint in UK politics. Investigations in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford revealed widespread child sexual exploitation, often perpetrated by men of predominantly Pakistani descent. Reports suggested systemic failings by local authorities and law enforcement, with officials accused of ignoring or downplaying abuse due to fears of being labelled racist.

The 2022 Oldham inquiry found serious safeguarding failures but did not uncover evidence of organised exploitation in council-run facilities. National inquiries, such as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), have repeatedly identified gaps in the system, while successive governments have pledged reforms.

These failures have been seized upon by far-right figures like Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment. Musk’s decision to amplify Robinson’s views has led critics to accuse him of spreading disinformation.

Musk vs Farage

The Tesla chief has aligned himself with far-right movements in Europe and expressed support for Britain’s Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage. Musk has also championed the cause of agitator Robinson, currently serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court

On Sunday, however, Musk appeared to distance himself from Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s anti-immigration Reform UK party. Musk, who previously signalled potential support for Farage’s party, declared on his X platform that “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”

This public rift comes days after Farage revealed he had been in talks with Musk regarding a possible significant financial donation to Reform UK. Farage’s party, which split the conservative vote during the general election in July 2024, is seen as influential in Labour’s return to power.

Musk posted on X questioning why Robinson was in solitary confinement, claiming it was for “telling the truth” about grooming gangs, a series of scandals involving the exploitation of young girls by predominantly South Asian men in several UK cities.

Farage responded with a firm rebuke, stating, “Tommy Robinson’s imprisonment is not political. It’s about contempt of court.” While maintaining Musk’s “very supportive” stance toward Reform UK, Farage rejected the notion of aligning with Robinson, saying, “I never sell out my principles.”

New Delhi:

Thousands of supporters of Tommy Robinson, gathered in London for a “Unite the Kingdom” rally, to oppose immigration policies on Saturday. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is once again making headlines as a prominent figure in the UK’s far-right movement. The rally saw a massive police presence,  to prevent clashes with counter-protesters.

Robinson has been a polarizing figure in British politics since he founded the English Defence League (EDL), a far-right Islamophobic organization, in 2009. Despite organizing the rally, he was unable to attend it due to his arrest on Friday.

Photo Credit: AFP

Recently, Robinson has been at the centre of unrest in the UK following a mass stabbing incident in Southport that caused the deaths of three children. He allegedly spread misinformation on social media, falsely claiming that the assailant was a Muslim asylum seeker, leading to violent riots across the country, with demonstrators chanting his name and escalating tensions between far-right groups and anti-racism activists.

As reported by Reuters, Saturday’s demonstration occurred amid rising tensions over immigration, with over 29,578 asylum seekers having crossed the English Channel this year-more than the total for all of 2023. His supporters argue that Britain is under siege from not only immigration but also “Islamification,” while critics, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, label the unrest fuelled by them, as racist.

Photo Credit: AFP

Saturday’s rally saw participants waving British flags and carrying placards which resonated with  Robinson’s nationalist sentiments. Police were deployed from across the country to monitor both events and ensure public safety. Many were seen carrying banners featuring slogans about former US President Donald Trump, reflecting the influence of a shared right-wing ideology across the globe.

Known for his anti-Islam rhetoric, Robinson has previously faced multiple criminal convictions, including assault and contempt of court. His controversial statements and actions have led to bans from major social media platforms as well. However, he regained access to social media platform X (formerly, Twitter) after its acquisition by Elon Musk.

He is currently in police custody facing charges related to contempt of court for repeatedly breaching an injunction that prohibits him from making defamatory statements about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi. In 2021, Robinson was found guilty of libel after falsely accusing Hijazi of assaulting girls at school. Robinson’s court appearance is scheduled for Monday. If convicted, he be sentenced to up to 4 years in prison.