On Monday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer firmly defended his record on addressing grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation, following criticism directed at his government by Elon Musk. Speaking during a press conference, Starmer emphasized his dedication to safeguarding victims and dismissed the tech billionaire’s comments.
“Utterly Sickening” Abuse
Addressing the issue of grooming gangs, Starmer described child sexual exploitation as “utterly sickening” and acknowledged the systemic failures that left victims unheard for years. He criticized past practices, saying, “Let down by perverse ideas about community relations or by the idea that institutions must be protected above all else, they [victims] have not been listened to and they have not been heard.”
Drawing on his experience as chief prosecutor, Starmer highlighted his proactive role in reopening cases previously deemed closed. He recounted the first major prosecution of an Asian grooming gang in Rochdale during his tenure, setting a precedent for subsequent cases. “We changed, or I changed, the whole prosecution approach because I wanted to challenge and did challenge the myths and stereotypes that were stopping those victims being heard,” he stated.
He added: “And when I was chief prosecutor for five years I tackled that head on because I could see what was happening and that is why I reopened cases that had been closed and supposedly finished, I brought the first major prosecution of an Asian grooming gang in the particular case it was in Rochdale but it was the first of its kind, there were many that then followed that format.”
Dismissing Musk’s Criticism
When asked about Musk’s remarks regarding the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, and his broader criticism of the British government, Starmer steered the conversation toward substantive issues. “I think most people are more interested in what is going to happen to the NHS, frankly, than what is happening on Twitter,” he remarked. The Prime Minister said: “I don’t really have any comment on the particular comment that was made this morning by Musk.” Starmer refused to engage directly with Musk’s suggestion that “America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government.” He declined to comment on the statement, underscoring his focus on domestic concerns.
In recent days, Elon Musk has criticized UK Prime Minister Starmer regarding the handling of grooming gangs during Starmer’s tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from 2008 to 2013. Musk accused Starmer of failing to take adequate action against these gangs, alleging complicity in systemic child sexual exploitation. Musk’s comments have reignited debates over the UK’s response to grooming gangs, drawing both support and criticism. Some political figures have called for further inquiries into past failures, while others have denounced Musk’s remarks as overly personal and inflammatory.
