Reform deputy praises 'popular' Musk - as Labour criticises 'ridiculous' grooming gangs intervention
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Reform's deputy leader has praised Elon Musk as "popular" and "appreciated" by the British public - as a government minister criticised the tech tycoon for "ridiculous" and "ill informed" comments on the UK grooming scandal. Speaking to Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Richard Tice defended the owner of X and Tesla as "one of the greatest entrepreneurs in history".
He said he was content to have Mr Musk, who is considering making a donation to Reform UK, support his party, adding: "He has a great interest in and the politics of this country and in the economy growing.". It comes in contrast to the stance taken by Wes Streeting, the health secretary, who said he was "not interested" in what Mr Musk had to say on the grooming scandal that took place across a swathe of UK towns and cities more than a decade ago.
Girls as young as 11 were groomed and raped across a number of towns in England - including Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford - over a decade ago in a national scandal that was exposed in 2013. Politics latest: NHS app upgrade to give patients 'more choice' in bid to cut waiting lists.
The following year a report by Prof Alexis Jay revealed the scale of exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 - where around 1,400 girls were abused - and the failure of police and social services to intervene. Elon Musk grooming gang claims 'ridiculous', minister says - and confirms govt committed to inquiry recommendations.
