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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has denounced politicians and activists for “spreading lies and misinformation” about grooming gangs, warning of the dangers posed by such rhetoric.
The remarks follow billionaire Elon Musk’s accusation that Starmer was “complicit in the rape of Britain” during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), claiming he failed to address grooming gangs. Musk’s comments have fueled calls from senior Conservatives and Reform UK MPs for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation.
Starmer criticized his opponents, accusing them of “jumping on a bandwagon” and amplifying far-right narratives to gain political traction. He defended Labour’s commitment to tackling child sexual abuse, arguing that Conservative inaction over the past 14 years exacerbated the problem.
“The online debate has crossed a line, leading to threats against MPs like Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips,” Starmer said. “We’ve seen this tactic before—inciting intimidation and violence, hoping the media will amplify it. Those spreading lies are not concerned about victims but about themselves.”
The discussion around grooming gangs reignited after GB News reported on Phillips’ decision to reject Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation in favor of a locally-led investigation. The decision, made in October, was criticized by some but defended by Phillips and Starmer.
Describing child sexual exploitation as “utterly sickening,” Starmer highlighted his achievements as DPP. He introduced systemic changes, including appointing a special prosecutor for child abuse cases, updating CPS guidelines, and implementing court reforms to support victims. He also reopened cases and spearheaded the prosecution of an “Asian grooming gang” in Rochdale.
“When I left office, we had the highest number of child sexual abuse prosecutions on record,” Starmer stated. “The victims suffered horrendous abuse and were often ignored, but I took decisive action to change that.”
Elon Musk’s criticism escalated, with the tech entrepreneur accusing Phillips of being a “rape genocide apologist” and calling for her and Starmer’s imprisonment. Musk, a close adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, has called for the release of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence.
Starmer warned against tolerating lies in public discourse, stating, “Once we lose the anchor of truth in robust debate, we are on a dangerous path.”
The controversy comes as Conservatives and Reform UK continue to push for a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labeled Starmer’s comments as “disgraceful,” accusing him of dismissing public concerns about organized sexual exploitation.
However, Starmer insisted that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), led by Professor Alexis Jay, was comprehensive and sufficient. “No stone should be left unturned to combat child sexual abuse,” he said, “but what we need now is action, not another review.”
The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to summon the US ambassador to address Musk’s interference in UK politics. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey stated, “Elon Musk’s attempts to meddle in our democracy are unacceptable and unwelcome.”
High-profile investigations into grooming gangs in towns such as Rotherham, Telford, Rochdale, and Bristol have exposed systemic failures to protect victims. In Rotherham, an inquiry uncovered the abuse of 1,400 children over 16 years, often by British Pakistani men. Similar patterns were identified in Telford, where up to 1,000 girls were exploited over four decades.
Conservatives, including party leader Kemi Badenoch, have argued for a national inquiry to join the dots between these cases. “Victims deserve justice, and 2025 must be the year we deliver it,” Badenoch said.
Starmer countered that action is the priority, reiterating that existing inquiries have already laid the groundwork to address the issue.
