SpaceX CEO and owner of social platform X, Elon Musk, has launched a scathing attack on Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of refusing to prosecute Pakistani gangs involved in the systematic abuse of underage British girls. Musk has described Starmer as “evil incarnate” for allegedly prioritizing political interests over justice for victims.

On January 8, Musk shared a meme on his platform criticizing Starmer for seeking an investigation into former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s lockdown violations during the Covid-19 pandemic while purportedly ignoring the criminal activities of “politically protected UK rape gangs.” Alongside the meme, Musk simply wrote, “Starmer is evil.”

Musk has increasingly focused on the issue of the UK’s so-called “grooming gangs” and highlighted the failures of police departments, politicians, and prosecutors to protect vulnerable children. The “grooming gangs” reportedly raped and tortured tens of thousands of underage girls across towns in northern England over the last two decades, according to various government and media investigations. The majority of the perpetrators were Pakistani men, while the victims were predominantly white British girls. Despite gaining media attention after The Times’ investigative reports in 2011, successive UK governments and law enforcement agencies failed to act decisively, and some police departments even covered up the scandal, as later inquiries revealed.

“What was done to thousands of defenseless little girls in Britain was vile beyond belief,” Musk wrote in another post on January 08. “When the fathers of the little girls tried to save them, the authorities arrested their fathers,” he added, alluding to a case in Rotherham where victims’ families were reportedly threatened with legal action for intervening.

Keir Starmer served as the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013, a period when some of the most egregious abuses by grooming gangs occurred. Under his leadership, the CPS was criticized for failing to prosecute gang members in Rochdale, and a 2015 inquiry revealed that Rotherham police believed the CPS was unwilling to pursue charges against alleged perpetrators. These decisions have drawn sharp criticism from Musk and others who argue that Starmer failed to protect victims and bring justice to their abusers.

Responding to Musk’s accusations on January 6, Starmer dismissed them as “lies and misinformation.” The Prime Minister defended his record, claiming that he reformed the CPS’ prosecution strategy for child sexual abuse cases, resulting in record-high prosecution numbers during his tenure. “We changed the whole prosecution approach to bring justice to survivors,” Starmer told reporters.

However, a BBC investigation found that the Prime Minister’s claims were misleading. According to the broadcaster, the CPS’ prosecution data under Starmer covered a broad category of child sex abuse cases and did not differentiate between gang-related crimes and individual offenses. Furthermore, the BBC noted that while prosecutions peaked at 4,794 in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, they rose significantly to 7,200 annually by 2016-2017-after Starmer had left the CPS.

Musk’s criticisms appear to have resonated with the public. Starmer’s approval ratings, already low, have fallen further since Musk began highlighting his alleged failures. A YouGov poll published on January 6 showed that 63% of voters disapprove of Starmer’s government, with only 16% expressing approval-a two-point drop from December.

The issue has also reignited political tensions in Parliament. During a debate on January 8, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch proposed an amendment to an upcoming child protection bill, calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs. Starmer rejected the proposal, arguing that such an inquiry would delay the implementation of other critical aspects of the bill. Given Labour’s 163-seat majority, the amendment is unlikely to pass.

Musk seized on Starmer’s opposition to the inquiry, writing on X: “Now why would Keir Starmtrooper order his own party to block such an inquiry? Because he is hiding terrible things. That is why.” Musk’s use of the nickname “Starmtrooper” was a deliberate jab, implying authoritarian tendencies.

On the same day, Musk amplified his critique by sharing a post from British journalist Kelvin MacKenzie, which accused Starmer of eroding trust in his leadership. “Nobody trusts Starmer and for good reason. Investors won’t invest without trust. He has created a financial crisis for Britain,” Musk wrote alongside MacKenzie’s post.

The debate over Starmer’s handling of the grooming gang scandal has drawn sharp divisions among political commentators. Supporters of the Prime Minister argue that he has made significant strides in addressing systemic issues within the CPS and law enforcement. Critics, however, claim that his reluctance to pursue high-profile inquiries into politically sensitive cases reveals a lack of accountability.

The controversy has also raised broader questions about political correctness and its impact on justice. Many critics argue that fear of being labeled racist contributed to the reluctance of police and prosecutors to act against grooming gangs composed primarily of Pakistani men. These failures, they contend, reflect a systemic prioritization of political expediency over the safety and dignity of victims.

Musk’s high-profile intervention in the debate has brought renewed attention to the scandal, prompting calls for deeper investigations and policy reforms. Whether this will lead to tangible changes remains uncertain, but the public’s trust in Starmer’s leadership appears to be at a low ebb.

As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether Starmer can recover from the political damage inflicted by Musk’s allegations. The grooming gang scandal is a dark chapter in the UK’s recent history, and the pressure for accountability and justice shows no signs of abating. For now, Musk’s relentless criticism has placed the issue squarely in the spotlight, forcing the government to confront uncomfortable questions about its past failures and current priorities.

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel