Elon Musk has turned up the temperature on an explosive row over grooming gangs after GB News revealed that Labour’s Jess Phillips had shut down calls for a public inquiry into the scandal.
GB News exclusively revealed the Government had formally rejected repeated requests for a Home Office-led inquiry into historic child abuse in Oldham – sparking uproar on social media.
The Home Office had stressed the need to “learn from past mistakes and do everything possible to prevent future failures”.
But in a domestic political row which has now gone international, Musk made the incendiary claim that the Birmingham Yardley MP should be imprisoned.
‘She deserves to be in prison,’ Musk wrote
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The tech tycoon added: ‘Prison for Phillips now!’
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He had been replying to former Prime Minister Liz Truss, who wrote: “This is Jess Phillips, the same Home Office Minister who excused masked Islamist thugs.
“Her title ‘Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls” is a perversion of the English language.
“It’s clear whose side she is on.”
The X and Tesla owner retorted: “She deserves to be in prison.” In a separate post, Musk added: “Prison for Phillips now!”
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Today’s comments will doubtless ratchet up tensions between Musk – who is set to serve in Donald Trump’s cabinet – and the Labour Government
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The comments are likely to ratchet up tensions between Musk – who is set to serve in Donald Trump’s cabinet – and the Labour Government.
Musk had previously lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer during last summer’s social unrest, and has recently claimed “very few” businesses will invest in Britain while the Prime Minister remains in charge.
However, Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have long maintained that Labour’s relationship with the incoming Trump administration is a positive one.
The pair met with Trump in New York in September 2024 – and afterwards, Starmer had said it was “good” he had the opportunity to meet the then-Republican Presidential nominee.
A Government source said the two had “discussed the longstanding friendship between the UK and the US and the importance of continuing to develop the strong and enduring partnership between our two countries”.
The full Home Office statement in response to GB News’ exclusive today reads: “No child should ever suffer sexual abuse or exploitation. Everyone who is responsible for children’s welfare must learn from past mistakes and do everything possible to prevent future failures.”
GB News has approached Downing Street, the Home Office and the Labour Party for comment.
