Cabinet minister rejects claims that Musk pushed Government into grooming action
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A Cabinet minister has rejected claims that Elon Musk’s social media posts spurred the Government into action on grooming gangs. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she does not believe “that this Government is being driven by what happens on social media” as she pushed back against claims the interventions of the tech billionaire had led ministers to launch a new investigation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced an audit on Thursday into the current scale and nature of “gang-based exploitation” across the country as well as local reviews into grooming in some areas. The announcement came following weeks of pressure on the issue, including from the X owner.
Asked if the tech boss’ intervention had prompted the Government’s action, Ms Nandy told Sky News: “I utterly refute that.”. She was also asked about the topic on BBC Breakfast, and told the programme: “We’re not a Government that governs by social media. We govern for the real world.
“Victims have been warning over and over again, telling the same story about the systems that were supposed to protect them, protecting themselves, and young women who weren’t believed because they were young, they were female, and they were working-class.
“We know what needs to be done, and as a Government we are wasting no time in getting on and making sure that we deliver for those young women.”. Asked about suggestions from her ministerial colleague Sir Chris Bryant that the social media discussion may have influenced Government action, Ms Nandy said: “I don’t agree for a moment that this Government is being driven by what happens on social media.
