Elon
Musk’s calls for Tommy Robinson release anger Labour MPs
Billionaire
ally of Donald Trump also accuses Keir Starmer on X of failing to prosecute
child rapists in Oldham
Kiran Stacey
Political correspondent
Thu 2 Jan
2025 14.20 CET
Elon Musk
has caused anger by calling for the release of Tommy Robinson and accusing Keir
Starmer of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham in Greater Manchester.
The
billionaire ally of Donald Trump pinned a message at the top of his X feed
overnight saying “Free Tommy Robinson!”, tagging the far-right activist who is
in jail for contempt of court.
As well as a
number of messages in support of Robinson, Musk posted several times about rape
gangs in Rochdale and Oldham, attacking the prime minister and the safeguarding
minister, Jess Phillips, over their responses to the scandal.
In one post
Musk said: “In the UK, serious crimes such as rape require the Crown
Prosecution Service’s approval for the police to charge suspects. Who was the
head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without
facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.”
He added
that Phillips “deserved to be in prison” after she said it was for Oldham
council to call an inquiry into child exploitation there, rather than the
national government.
In another
he said: “The real reason she’s refusing to investigate the rape gangs is that
it would obviously lead to the blaming of Keir Stamer (head of the [Crown
Prosecution Service] at the time).”
Musk
reposted several comments calling for the release of Robinson, whose real name
is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who was jailed last October for repeating false
allegations about a Syrian refugee.
Musk’s
latest intervention in British politics has caused anger among Labour MPs, many
of whom have been pushing the government to stop posting on X.
The Tesla
co-founder and X owner has repeatedly attacked Starmer over the prime
minister’s response to the UK riots last summer. He is reported to be
considering donating as much as $100m (£80m) to Reform UK, and was pictured
alongside the party’s leader, Nigel Farage, and its treasurer, Nick Candy, two
weeks ago.
Musk’s posts
overnight are his most explicit endorsement yet of the British far right and
come after he promised to support the German anti-migration party Alternative
für Deutschland.
One MP said:
“[Musk] has pushed it too far this time. Twitter [now X] is really rapidly
becoming a cess pit, even for disinterested non-partisan types.”
Several
ministers said they thought this should be the trigger for the government to
leave Musk’s platform. Others, however, warned that doing so could cause a
diplomatic incident given Musk’s role in the incoming Trump administration.
Downing
Street declined to comment.
A
spokesperson for Reform UK would not say whether the billionaire’s endorsement
of Robinson – a divisive figure within the party – would change its willingness
to accept his money.
A
spokesperson for Oldham council said: “Survivors sit at the heart of our work
to end child sexual exploitation. Whatever happens in terms of future
inquiries, we have promised them that their wishes will be paramount, and we
will not renege on that pledge.
“We all
recognise that terrible mistakes were made in the past, with children ignored
or dismissed. By ensuring that survivors have a voice that is heard, we can
help make sure that no child will be failed in the future.”
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