Elon Musk and Keir Starmer: A history of their relationship from the Southport riots to grooming gang claims
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Sir Keir Starmer’s latest spat with Elon Musk has its roots in tensions that began months ago. Sir Keir Starmer has begun this year in an explosive row with tech billionaire Elon Musk, which broke out after the Tesla boss criticised the government for rejecting a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.
Over Christmas, he launched into a furious tirade on social media, sharing a flurry of posts accusing home office minister Jess Phillips of being a “rape genocide apologist” who “deserves to be in prison”. He has also claimed that the prime minister is complicit in the scandal and criticised his handling of it while he was director of public prosecutions.
While Sir Keir has stayed quiet over the last few days, refusing to be drawn into a running commentary on the posts, he came out fighting on Monday, using a speech on the NHS to hit back at Musk’s “lies and misinformation”. “Those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and wide as possible are not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves,” he said. “They are cheerleading Tommy Robinson, a man who went to prison for nearly collapsing a grooming case”.
“When the poison of the far right leads to serious threats, to Jess Phillips and others, that in my book, means a line has been crossed. I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics. The robust debate that we must have. But that’s got to be based on facts and truth. Not on lies.”.