Keir Starmer hits back at Elon Musk’s ‘lies’ over handling of child sex abuse scandal
CNNLondon CNN — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticized those “spreading lies and misinformation” about child sex grooming gangs in the United Kingdom, responding to an online storm whipped up by Elon Musk. In another, he called for Starmer’s safeguarding minister, Jess Philips, to be imprisoned, calling her “pure evil” and “a wicked creature.” On Monday, he also said Starmer should be in prison. Starmer said he enjoys “the cut-and-thrust of politics,” but said these debates must “be based on facts and truth, not on lies.” He also criticized Conservative politicians – some of whom were in government during the grooming scandal – for “jumping on the bandwagon” and being “so desperate for attention that they’re prepared to debase themselves and their country.” British lawmaker Ed Davey urged the UK government on Monday to summon the US ambassador over Musk’s comments. It’s time to summon the US ambassador to ask why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK government should be overthrown,” Davey, who serves as the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the third largest party in the UK, said in a post on X. Davey stated that the American ambassador should convey to the US government that those at a senior level need to be “very careful about how they comment on UK affairs, whether they’re the richest man in the world or anyone else.” Musk has accused Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” for failing to thwart grooming gangs while he was director of public prosecutions.