UK Prime Minister Starmer slams ‘lies’ after Musk tirade
Al Jazeera
Starmer defends record after billionaire Musk attacks him and other Labour figures over handling of child rape cases.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his record and slammed those “spreading lies” following days of hostile attacks from Elon Musk over historical child rape crimes in northern England.
“Those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible are not interested in victims, they are interested in themselves,” Starmer said on Monday, without mentioning US billionaire Musk by name.
He was speaking during a National Health Service-related event in Surrey in the United Kingdom, responding to a question about Musk’s recent attacks on his handling of child rape cases.
Focusing on historical scandals involving paedophile grooming gangs that first emerged during Starmer’s tenure as director of public prosecutions, Musk has in recent days assailed him and other Labour figures over the issue.
Musk’s tirade, which included demands for a new public inquiry into the scandal, has prompted some UK opposition politicians to join in the criticism and calls for a new national probe.