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Elon Musk responds to criticism with lurid and baseless new claim about Sir Keir Starmer
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Elon Musk’s father has urged the public to “ignore” his son in response to a growing row over grooming gangs.
The billionaire’s father, Errol Musk, told LBC that “people don’t have to listen to what he says”.
“I’d say don’t worry about it. Tell him to get lost,” he added.
The Tesla owner launched a series of baseless attacks on Sir Keir over grooming gangs, while also calling for the release of jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson – a development which saw him turn on Reform leader Nigel Farage on Sunday, claiming he “does not have what it takes” to lead the party.
In a major speech on NHS reform, Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday: “Those that are spreading lies and misinformation, as far and as wide as possible, are not interested in the victims. They’re interested in themselves. Those who are cheerleading Tommy Robinson are not interested in justice.”
But Mr Musk retorted with a fresh flurry of lurid claims that Sir Keir – who oversaw the first major prosecution of an Asian grooming gang while director of public prosecutions – “was deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes”.
Sir Keir Starmer has now suffered a bigger drop in approval ratings at this point in office than any new prime minister since Sir John Major in 1992, with The Independent’s latest Techne UK tracker poll showing a three-way battle between Labour, the Tories and Reform UK ahead of May’s local elections.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Three of the prime minister’s most controversial decisions since taking office are seen as more toxic than the scandal of lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street during lockdowns, according to a new poll
Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier defended the pace of the government’s social care reforms.
He told the Commons: “The truth is whether it was Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham in 2010 or Theresa May in 2017, we can see how the extent of party political wrangling and rancour and sometimes opportunism has sunk well-meaning attempts to grasp the nettle of reform.
“And on the question of pace, just to reassure people, in the first six months, we have already legislated for fair pay agreements, delivered the biggest expansion of care allowance since the 1970s, injected immediately funding into the disabled facilities grant – £86m and another £86m to follow from April, £711m in total over the next year – as well as the increased spending power for local government in the budget of £880m for social care specifically.”
The former head of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse has called for the “full implementation” of reforms set out in her 2022 report amid calls in Westminster for the government to launch a fresh review.
Professor Alexis Jay distanced herself from demands for a new independent probe and urged instead the introduction of measures like a child protection authority which she recommended two years ago.
She said: “Our mission is not to call for new inquiries but to advocate for the full implementation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse’s IICSA recommendations. A child protection authority is critical to this process.”
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The Greater Manchester mayor pointed to an ongoing review into the scandal in Manchester which he launched after being elected in 2017, but said he would support a national inquiry if the government deemed one necessary
Health secretary Wes Streeting has hit out at the Tories criticisms of Labour.
Mr Streeting told MPs: “It seems to be the Conservative line across the board now that says ‘you had 14 years in opposition, why haven’t you sorted it all out in 6 months?’ Can I just gently say: you had 14 years in government, it’ll take longer than 6 months to clean up your mess.”
He added: “Honestly, I do think that Conservative contributions to discussions in this House might have more credibility and a stronger landing zone if they did at least acknowledge their part in the deep mess and malaise that they created in the last 14 years.”
The Conservatives will attempt to amend the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to require a full national inquiry into grooming gangs, Kemi Badenoch has said.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Badenoch said: “I was serious when I said it’s time to get justice for victims. So on Wednesday, Conservatives will put forward an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to require a full national inquiry into the rape gangs grooming scandal.
“If the amendment is selected, I hope MPs from all parties will vote to support the inquiry, so we can do right by the victims and end the culture of cover ups.”
The UK has not had any discussions with the incoming Trump administration over the crumbling Chagos Islands deal, the defence secretary has admitted, amid growing concerns over the future of the agreement.
While the outgoing Joe Biden administration supported the deal, Donald Trump’s team is looking for a way to veto it as a result of concerns over possible Chinese interference.
The Chagos Islands, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, are seen as strategically important in southeast Asia as America uses the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia for ships and long-range bombers.
Asked to outline exactly what discussions have been had between ministers and the incoming Trump administration on the future of the Diego Garcia base, John Healey admitted that no talks have yet taken place.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Donald Trump’s team is looking for a way to veto the deal as a result of concerns over possible Chinese interference
Elon Musk’s spat with Nigel Farage could harm his political influence in the UK, a pollster has suggested.
“Even with his considerable reach and closeness to President-elect Trump, Musk might find himself less able to influence mainstream political views after the falling out with Farage,” Scarlett Maguire of JL Partners told Bloomberg.
Senior politicians in Labour, the Tories and Reform have privately urged allies of Donald Trump that the US president-elect should rethink his relationship with Elon Musk in the wake of the latter’s flurry of wild claims on social media, Bloomberg reports.
A source described as well-connected on both sides of the Atlantic told the outlet: “I can’t see Elon’s relationship with President Trump lasting very long after this fiasco. It’s definitely a warning of things to come.
“This episode has definitely set off alarm bells with people close to Trump.”
However, Trump-Vance Transition spokesperson Brian Hughes told Bloomberg that the two men were “great friends” and called the billionaire “a once in a generation business leader” whose ideas would benefit the incoming US administration.
Defending the prime minister amid Elon Musk’s lurid claims, Labour MP Preet Kaur Gill said: “As an ex-children’s services manager, I’ve seen the impact that the changes [Keir Starmer] made during his time [as director of public prosecutions].
“This government will get on with the job of protecting victims, including of child sexual abuse, and mandatory reporting.”
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