Trump ally escalates feud with UK’s Labour government, sparking international controversy.
Elon Musk stirred up fresh controversy on Monday by calling for the imprisonment of Britain’s Prime Minister and hinting at the idea of a U.S. intervention in the country. The remarks marked a sharp escalation in his ongoing feud with the Labour government led by Keir Starmer.
Musk, who has reportedly been considered for a key government role if Donald Trump returns to power, has clashed with Starmer’s administration since it came to power last year. His latest criticisms have focused on the government’s handling of child sexual exploitation cases and its approach to combating Islamophobia.
In a provocative post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote, “Prison for Starmer,” sharing an anonymous claim accusing the Prime Minister of prioritizing anti-Muslim abuse over condemning a child murderer. Shortly after, he launched an online poll asking followers whether the U.S. should “liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government.”
Background on the debate
Musk’s comments come amid a sensitive debate in the UK regarding how authorities have responded to cases of child sexual exploitation. He has criticized Starmer’s record as the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), a role in which Starmer was responsible for overseeing major criminal cases.
The Labour government recently declined to initiate a new national inquiry into grooming gangs—predominantly involving South Asian men targeting vulnerable young girls in northern England—citing multiple past inquiries into the issue.
One key investigation, led by social worker Alexis Jay in 2014, found that approximately 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Jay’s report highlighted systemic failings and noted that local authorities were hesitant to confront Pakistani-heritage perpetrators, partly due to concerns about being labeled racist.
Reports such as the Jay inquiry, along with subsequent investigations like the one in Oldham, have become focal points for right-wing politicians in Britain who argue that not enough has been done to address these crimes.
Government response
As Musk’s remarks continued to draw headlines, Health Minister Karin Smyth dismissed his accusations, calling them “wrong” and emphasizing Starmer’s past efforts in prosecuting grooming gangs.
“Keir Starmer was widely praised for his work as DPP in bringing these perpetrators to justice and supporting victims,” Smyth said. “It would be far more constructive if Mr. Musk used his platform to advocate for victims rather than spread misinformation.”
The UK government is now grappling with how to handle Musk’s increasingly inflammatory statements, which have drawn widespread attention both at home and abroad. Photo by Heisenberg Media, Wikimedia commons.