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Wes Streeting Condemns Musk’s Comments on Jess Phillips

The recent remarks made by Elon Musk regarding Jess Phillips have drawn significant condemnation, specifically from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who labeled Musk’s statements a “disgraceful smear.” Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind tech innovations, utilized his platform on X to assert that Phillips, the safeguarding minister, should be incarcerated and accused her of being a “rape genocide apologist.” He also criticized Sir Keir Starmer, claiming he failed in prosecuting child exploitation gangs.

These comments emerged in response to Phillips’ refusal to spearhead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation incidents in Oldham. This refusal prompted calls from opposition parties, including the Conservatives and Reform UK, for a national inquiry into grooming gangs across the UK.

Streeting defended Phillips, emphasizing her dedication to combating sexual abuse, stating that she has accomplished more than most in this difficult arena. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he remarked, “It is a disgraceful smear of a great woman who has spent her life supporting victims of the kind of violence that Elon Musk and others say that they’re against.”

He maintained that it is easy for individuals like Musk to make hasty statements without understanding the challenging realities that public figures, like Phillips and Starmer, navigate as they work to secure justice for victims.

This controversy escalated after Phillips ordered Oldham Council to conduct its own local inquiry into historical child sexual abuse, drawing parallels to similar inquiries in other towns such as Rochdale and Telford. Musk’s reaction included asserting that she “deserves to be in prison” for her stance.

The backlash against Phillips’ decision has not been limited to Musk. Several high-ranking Conservative officials have voiced disapproval, despite their party’s prior rejection of a similar inquiry request in 2022. Musk, who has recently aligned himself as an advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, has repeatedly retweeted sentiments from Conservative and Reform UK MPs advocating for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Further complicating the narrative, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, defended Musk’s remarks, suggesting that while Musk’s language was “tough,” his commitment to free speech on platforms like X is commendable. He affirmed the public’s right to express anger about the issues surrounding grooming gangs and the demand for thorough inquiries.

Streeting took aim at Musk’s perceived inaction, urging him to “roll up his sleeves” and contribute positively to combating violence against women, especially in the context of online platforms’ responsibilities to protect users from abuse and exploitation.

In his defense of Phillips, Streeting highlighted her extensive work supporting victims beyond her political career, and he commended Starmer’s tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions, which included implementing a dedicated prosecutor for child abuse cases.

Despite the Conservative Party calling for a comprehensive public inquiry into what has been referred to as the UK’s “rape gangs scandal,” they have also taken issue with Musk’s spread of what they labeled “factually inaccurate” information, attempting to distance themselves from his extreme rhetoric.

Critically, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp described Musk’s comments about Phillips as inappropriate, but acknowledged that raising the overarching issue of grooming gangs is indeed valid. He insisted on the importance of discussing such sensitive topics with truth and composure.

Both Phillips and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have communicated to the Conservatives the rationale behind their preference for a local inquiry, pointing out that the Oldham Council had already initiated steps in this direction. Their correspondence emphasized that victims have clearly expressed a desire for action, and they support an independent review previously commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham.

The backdrop of these discussions is a series of inquiries into grooming gangs across the UK, which have exposed alarming instances of child abuse. Notable reports have revealed that in Rotherham, around 1,400 children were abused over a 16-year period primarily by British Pakistani men. Similarly, an investigation in Telford indicated that up to 1,000 girls faced abuse over a span of 40 years, sometimes left unchecked due to concerns related to race.

Overall, the clash between Musk’s incendiary comments and the responses from British political figures underscores the contentious and sensitive nature of discussions surrounding sexual abuse and grooming gangs, as well as the broader implications for child protection and justice in the UK.

Source
www.bbc.com