“‘Spreading Lies’ – UK Prime Minister Starmer Fires Back at Musk Over Grooming Gang Claims: ‘Not Interested in Victims'”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hit back at claims made by Elon Musk regarding his handling of the grooming gangs scandal during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Speaking during a press conference, Starmer called out Musk’s remarks as “lies and misinformation” and defended his record, while also emphasizing the need for truth in political discourse.

“My record is open,” Starmer said. “Every single case I prosecuted went to court and was looked at by a judge. I was overseen by the Attorney General, who for three of the five years I served was a Tory Attorney General.”

Musk recently took to social media to suggest that Starmer was complicit in what he termed the “rape of Britain”, aligning with critics who claim Starmer failed to address the grooming gangs issue effectively. Musk’s remarks have reignited calls for a national inquiry into the systemic abuse of vulnerable children across the UK.

Starmer responded to these demands, stating, “There have been many reviews, including the J Report, which was comprehensive. What Professor Jay said was important: this doesn’t need more consultation or research—it needs action.”

The Prime Minister used the moment to shift focus onto his political opponents, accusing them of exploiting the issue for political gain. “When politicians are casual about honesty and truth, it undermines the robust debate we need in a democracy,” he said. “This is about the victims who suffered unspeakable abuse, and our responsibility is to act, not to tweet or grandstand.”

During the Q&A session, Chris Hope of GB News confronted Starmer about the limits of the J Report, which focused on six towns, compared to evidence from GB News investigations revealing grooming gangs in over 50 towns.

“Are you certain this isn’t going on today?” Hope asked. “Why didn’t you order a national public inquiry to join the dots between these cases? Are you afraid it might expose failings in your role as DPP?”

Starmer deflected, highlighting changes he implemented during his tenure and reiterating his focus on action over further reviews. “I wasn’t tweeting about it or talking about it—I got on with changing it,” he said. “For ten years, there were reviews and reports, but the last government failed to act. I’ve acted.”

Musk’s intervention and Starmer’s response have added fuel to an already heated debate about the government’s handling of grooming gangs. Critics argue that Starmer’s leadership as DPP fell short in tackling the issue, while supporters point to systemic failures across multiple governments and institutions.

The Prime Minister ended his remarks with a broader critique of the state of political discourse. “This is about what kind of politics we want. Do we want politicians who stand up for the truth, or those who jump on far-right bandwagons to score cheap points?”