Keir Starmer speaking in London on Monday January 6.
AFP
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday denounced “those who spread lies and disinformation”. This statement came after attacks by billionaire Elon Musk on the handling of a case of rape and sexual exploitation of minors in England.
“Those who spread lies and disinformation (…) are not interested in the victims. They are interested in themselves,” Keir Starmer said at a press conference, without mentioning Elon Musk by name.
“What senseless comments!” Elon Musk later said on X, adding in his message: “Starmer is completely despicable.”
Vast rape case
In a series of messages posted on his social network X in recent days, the billionaire targeted the head of government, formerly head of the public prosecutor’s office in England.
He attacked the authorities’ handling of a vast case of rape and sexual exploitation of more than 1,500 girls and young girls in the north of England over decades and which had emerged more than ten years old.
Most of those responsible were men from Pakistan and the authorities were accused of failing to take stock of the matter.
“In the UK, serious crimes like rape require approval from the Prosecution Service (CPS) before the police can charge suspects. Who was in charge of the CPS when gangs of rapists were able to exploit young girls without having to face justice? Keir Starmer,” Elon Musk wrote on X last Thursday.
In defense of a far-right activist
He also called for new general elections to be held in the United Kingdom, and demanded the release of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, sentenced to 18 months in prison for breaching a court order which banned him from repeat defamatory remarks against a Syrian refugee.
Questioned about these attacks, Keir Starmer defended his record at the head of the CPS, claiming to have “reopened files” and to have “presented the first indictments against an Asian exploitation network”.
Elon Musk also called current Secretary of State for Victim Protection Jess Phillips an “apologist for genocidal rape”. The latter recently considered that it was not necessary to carry out a national investigation into the management of several sexual exploitation scandals which shook the country, since specific investigations into several of them have already taken place.
Since then, she has been the subject of violent attacks on social networks.
“A line has been crossed”
“When the poison of the far right leads to serious threats against Jess Phillips, then in my opinion a line has been crossed,” denounced Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister also strongly attacked the conservatives, whom he accused of not having acted when they were in power. “They need so much attention today that they amplify what the far right says,” he said.
(afp)
