The Home Secretary has defended Jess Phillips as a ‘fearless and formidable advocate for victims and survivors’ after Elon Musk said she should be locked up following the grooming gangs scandal.
The billionaire X owner suggested the safeguarding minister ‘deserves to be in prison’ for denying requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
Ms Phillips instead implied it would be better for the local council to lead an investigation into the issue instead – a view which has sparked criticism from victims.
‘I believe it is for Oldham Council alone to decide to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation locally, rather than for the Government to intervene,’ she said.
However, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today came to her colleague’s defence.
She said: ‘Jess Phillips has dedicated her career to tackling sexual violence and abuse and to being a voice for victims and survivors of the most terrible crimes, including child sexual abuse.
‘From setting up the first ever child sexual exploitation service in the Black Country and supporting survivors in Telford, Jess has been a fearless and formidable advocate for victims and survivors.
‘She has worked with whistleblowers and campaigned tirelessly for justice for those badly let down by endemic institutional failure.
Jess Phillips said it would be best if Oldham Council led an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal
Elon Musk has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer on social media in recent days as well as Ms Phillips
‘As a Home Office minister, she has put the experience of grooming and trafficking victims at the heart of our work on modern slavery and launched a national scheme to make sure staff and local police work together to spot when hotels are being used as a site of child sexual exploitation.’
Ms Cooper said the Birmingham Yardley MP would continue to implement the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, which published its final report in 2022.
It comes as Mr Musk launched another salvo against Labour and Sir Keir Starmer by accusing the PM of being ‘complicit’ in crimes carried out by sex abuse gangs.
He also said Sir Kier, who was director of public prosecutions (DPP) between 2008 and 2013, of having allowed criminals to get away with abuse.
‘Starmer must go and he must face charges for his complicity in the worst mass crime in the history of Britain (sic),’ he said.
In one 24 hour period this week, he used his social media site X to post or repost about child grooming in the UK more than 40 times.
Yesterday, grooming gang victims spoke out to demand a public inquiry and tougher sentences for abusers.
Sarah Wilson was groomed and raped by paedophiles in Rotherham for five years from the age of 11 – with one attack taking place in a school playground.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper arriving in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting on October 30
Child abuser Arshid Hussain (pictured) who was jailed for 35 years in 2016
Sammy Woodhouse, a victim of grooming gangs in Oldham, called for ‘action’ against professionals, including police and social workers, who failed to stop the abuse
She wrote on X: ‘Jess Phillips needs to hang her head in shame!!! Anyone who denies an independent investigation has a lot to hide.’
Sammy Woodhouse was just 14 when she met her rapist, Arshid Hussain, who was jailed for 35 years in 2016.
Hussain, known in Rotherham as Mad Ash, was reportedly contacted by the council about care proceedings.
She told LBC: ‘We have report, after report, after report telling us the same thing. We know what’s happening in this country because people like myself have been giving thousands of interviews to the mainstream media telling you about it.
‘What’s not happening is action – there’s not enough paedophiles being taken through the courts and when they are, they’re walking free. There’s no professionals being held to account.’
While the proposed public inquiry would have focused on Oldham, grooming gangs have been exposed in numerous other parts of the country ranging from Newcastle to Oxford and Bristol. The abusers were predominantly Asian men.
Labour ministers have already hit back at Mr Musk for his comments on the issue.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said on Friday morning his slew of tweets were ‘misjudged and certainly misinformed’.
Pressed if Mr Musk’s comments were unhelpful to the Government, Mr Streeting told ITV News that ministers took child sexual exploitation ‘incredibly seriously’.
He added: ‘Some of the criticisms that Elon Musk has made, I think are misjudged and certainly misinformed, but we’re willing to work with Elon Musk, who I think has got a big role to play with his social media platform to help us and other countries to tackle this serious issue.
Mr Musk later he accused Sir Kier, who was director of public prosecutions (DPP) between 2008 and 2013, of having allowed criminals to get away with abuse
Sarah Wilson, a survivor of sex abuse in Rotherham, has spoken out in favour of an ‘independent investigation’ into grooming gangs
The letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, written and signed by shadow home secretary Chris Philp and Alicia Kearns calling for a national inquiry
‘So if he wants to work with us and roll his sleeves up, we’d welcome that.’
The Health Secretary also said that ministers were supportive of an inquiry into the Oldham scandal, but signalled it had to be led locally.
Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said a full national inquiry into organised grooming gangs is ‘long overdue’.
Mrs Badenoch said: ‘The time is long overdue for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal.
‘Trials have taken place all over the country in recent years but no one in authority has joined the dots.
‘2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice.’
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp and shadow safeguarding minister Alicia Kearns pressed for a statutory inquiry in Oldham.
They said that only a public inquiry ‘can adequately encompass the national nature of these crimes and issues’ and consider whether reports were ignored by the police, CPS and local council ‘or even covered up’.
In 2022, the then-Conservative government also refused a request for a public inquiry into events in Oldham.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said a full national inquiry into organised grooming gangs is ‘long overdue’
An Oldham Council spokesman 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.’
Responding to Mrs Badenoch’s post, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: ‘Talk is cheap. The Conservatives had 14 years in government to launch an inquiry.
‘The establishment has failed the victims of grooming gangs on every level.’
Mr Musk, who is rumoured to be considering a major donation to Mr Farage’s party, responded: ‘Exactly. Time for Reform.’