Starmer attacks those ‘spreading lies’ on grooming gangs

6 January 2025

Political reporter

BBC chief political correspondentPM criticises those “spreading lies and misinformation” over grooming gangs

The prime minister has attacked politicians and activists “spreading lies and misinformation” over grooming gangs.

It comes after multi-billionaire Elon Musk accused Sir Keir Starmer of being “complicit in the rape of Britain” during his tenure as director of public prosecutions (DPP) between 2008 and 2013, for failing to tackle grooming gangs.

Alongside Musk’s comments, senior Conservatives and Reform UK MPs have also spent the week calling for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation.

But Sir Keir accused opposition MPs of “jumping on a bandwagon” and “amplifying what the far-right is saying” to gain attention.Sir Keir said Labour was addressing child sexual abuse after Conservative inaction “for 14 long years”.

Online debate around grooming gangs had now “crossed a line”, resulting in threats against MPs, including Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, he said.

“We have seen this playbook many times – whipping up of intimidation and of threats of violence, hoping that the media will amplify it,” Sir Keir said.

“Those who are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible are not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves,” he added.

Debate around grooming gangs was reignited this week after it was reported that Phillips rejected Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation in the town, in favour of a locally-led investigation.

The decision was taken in October, but first reported by GB News on 1 January.

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of using “smear tactics from 20 years ago” against those calling for a national inquiry.

“That such a huge scandal could occur should prompt soul-searching not ranting that those of us who care about it are ‘the far-right’,” Badenoch said.