Sir Keir Starmer and Elon Musk spar over the handling of the UK’s grooming gangs scandal

The world’s richest man and the British prime minister are in a dispute with them both attacking each other over the handling of the UK’s grooming gangs scandal.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accused Elon Musk of “spreading lies” after the government rejected calls to hold a public inquiry into the UK’s grooming gangs scandal.

On Monday morning, local time, Sir Keir addressed the media in a tense press conference and said a “line had been crossed” after Mr Musk criticised safeguarding minister Jess Phillips for refusing to hold a public inquiry into the historical sexual abuse cases in the UK and said she should be jailed.

“Those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible, they’re not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves,” Sir Keir said.

“I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics, the robust debate that we must have but that’s got to be based on facts”.

Mr Musk claimed Sir Keir was “complicit” in allowing the grooming gangs to operate without being checked while he was Director of Public Prosecutions more than a decade ago.

He also slammed the UK leader and said he “repeatedly ignored the pleas of vast numbers of little girls and their parents, in order to secure political support”.

“Starmer is utterly despicable,” Mr Musk posted on X.

What an insane thing to say!

The real reason is that it would show how Starmer repeatedly ignored the pleas of vast numbers of little girls and their parents, in order to secure political support.

Starmer is utterly despicable. https://t.co/AsvDQ4q5af

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 6, 2025

Debate over the scandal erupted this month after it was revealed Minister Phillips rejected Oldham Council’s request to hold a government-led inquiry into historical sexual abuses cases in the town located in Greater Manchester, and instead favoured a locally-led investigation.

Sir Keir’s comments on Monday also come after Mr Musk appeared to have a falling out with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over his views on British activist Tommy Robinson.

Mr Robinson was jailed last year after admitting to contempt of court after making false claims about a Syrian refugee.

Mr Musk posted on X last week, “free Tommy Robinson” and said the activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was revealing the truth about grooming gangs in Britain but Mr Farage told GB News the activist had been in “prison numerous times”.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been drawn into a row with Elon Musk. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Mr Musk threw his support online for Mr Robinson, while Mr Farage told news channel GB News on the weekend he would “explain” to Mr Musk why he did not support Mr Robinson.

“For those of you who think he is in prison for exposing grooming gangs, he is not,” Mr Farage said.

“He is in for contempt of court for the third time”.

Mr Musk sensationally used his social media platform X to call for the dumping Mr Farage as Reform UK’s leader just three weeks after the billionaire threw his support behind the British political party.

On Sunday afternoon, local time, Mr Musk posted on X: “The Reform Party needs a new leader, Farage doesn’t have what it takes”.

The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2025

The apparent fallout comes after Mr Farage travelled to the United States in December with British billionaire property tycoon and Reform UK’s treasurer Nick Candy and the pair met with Mr Musk at US president-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

A photo of the trio was shared online and was followed by reports that Musk would donate a huge sum of money to Reform UK – this now appears to be under serious threat.

Britain Needs Reform. @ElonMuskpic.twitter.com/CrR8p9yJab

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 17, 2024

Both Mr Musk and Mr Farage have a close relationship with Mr Trump.

One hour after Mr Musk posted online that Mr Farage should be replaced, the Reform UK leader hit back and wrote: “Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree.

“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles”.

Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree.

My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles. https://t.co/V7iccN6usS

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) January 5, 2025

At Reform UK’s rally in Leicester in the UK’s East Midlands on Friday, Mr Farage praised Mr Musk and said he was a “hero” for purchasing X because he “got free speech back”.

“Whether we like everything he says or not, he is a hero,” he said.

Reform UK has continued to garner support in the UK and the party’s online live membership tracker said on Sunday it had 174,900 supporters, overtaking the Conservative Party led by Kemi Badenoch which has 131,680 members.

Originally published as Sir Keir Starmer and Elon Musk spar over the handling of the UK’s grooming gangs scandal