Health Minister Andrew Gwynne suggests the X owner prioritize American issues over British affairs.
A British government minister has advised Elon Musk to concentrate on U.S. politics instead of frequently attacking the Labour Party in the U.K.
Musk, owner of social media platform X and a notable ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been engaged in a public dispute with Britain’s Labour Party. He has voiced strong objections to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stances on law enforcement, economic policy, and free speech.
Tensions escalated on Thursday after Musk demanded the release of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, prompting an outraged response from Labour lawmakers.
“Elon Musk is an American citizen, and perhaps he should focus on matters across the Atlantic,” Health Minister Andrew Gwynne told LBC radio on Friday.
Gwynne’s remarks followed Musk’s criticism of British authorities’ handling of child sexual exploitation cases. Musk accused Labour of dismissing calls for a national inquiry into child abuse in northern England and criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his performance during his tenure as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
In a post on X, Musk questioned Starmer’s leadership during his time at the CPS, writing: “In the U.K., serious crimes like rape require the Crown Prosecution Service’s approval before suspects can be charged by police. Who led the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.”
Calls for a nationwide investigation into child exploitation, particularly regarding so-called “rape gangs,” were echoed by Britain’s opposition party, the Conservatives. The Conservatives, who were ousted in July after 14 years in power, had also previously dismissed the idea of a national inquiry.
On Friday, Gwynne countered Musk’s claims, pointing out that several local investigations into child abuse had already taken place, alongside a comprehensive national review that concluded in 2022. “We’ve had numerous inquiries,” Gwynne said. “There comes a point when more inquiries aren’t necessary. If Elon Musk had followed the situation more closely, he would know that significant investigations have already been conducted.”
Later on Thursday, Musk continued to draw controversy by sharing posts from Tommy Robinson, who had been jailed in October for violating a court order regarding libelous allegations against a Syrian refugee schoolboy.
Musk accused media outlets, including POLITICO, of downplaying reports of young girls being “systematically raped” by “migrant gangs” and called the reporters “despicable human beings” for allegedly concealing the truth. Photo by JD Lasica from Pleasanton, CA, US, Wikimedia commons.