Musk’s comments on Labour minister Phillips were ‘reprehensible’ – Swinney
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Elon Musk’s comments about Jess Phillips were “reprehensible”, John Swinney has said, as he suggested rules about foreign donations to UK political parties should be tightened. The First Minister also criticised the tech billionaire for offering “glib” populist solutions to society’s issues after Mr Musk weighed in on UK politics in recent days.
In his first significant speech of the new year, the SNP leader urged other parties to back his government’s Budget deal in order to prevent “real damage” being done to Scotland’s NHS. Speaking to journalists afterwards, he was asked about the recent comments from the Tesla and SpaceX owner on child grooming gangs in the UK.
The billionaire, who is a key figure in the incoming Donald Trump administration, claimed UK safeguarding minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” for denying requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and called her a “rape genocide apologist”.
These remarks have been strongly criticised by Labour figures including the Prime Minister, who said “a line has been crossed”. Much of Mr Swinney’s speech in Edinburgh discussed how populism can thrive if politicians fail – as he warned of a “catastrophic reduction in service delivery” if Holyrood fails to pass the Government’s budget for the coming year.
