Policing Minister Chris Philp has ignited a political firestorm after publicly endorsing a controversial tweet by billionaire Elon Musk concerning grooming gangs in the UK. The move has drawn immediate and severe criticism from opposition parties and child protection experts.
The controversy began when Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), replied to a post by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Musk's comment claimed that 'media and government' were deliberately ignoring the issue of grooming gangs 'because they tend to target certain communities'.
In a move that stunned many, Minister Philp directly engaged with Musk's post, writing: 'Thank you. Spot on.' This public endorsement of the divisive rhetoric has been widely condemned as irresponsible and damaging.
Furious Backlash from Opposition and Charities
Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, led the charge, labelling Philp's actions 'appalling'. She stated that a government minister should not be amplifying such 'divisive and inflammatory' content, especially from a figure like Robinson.
Child protection charities echoed this sentiment. The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which works to prevent child sexual abuse, expressed deep concern. A spokesperson emphasised that abuse is perpetrated by individuals of all backgrounds and that focusing on a single ethnicity hinders the fight to protect children.
Defending the Indefensible?
When pressed for comment, a source close to Chris Philp defended the minister, arguing that his focus was solely on the victims and that he believes the issue has been 'swept under the carpet for too long'.
However, critics were quick to point out the government's own official reports, including the 2020 Home Office review, which found that group-based child sexual exploitation offences are most commonly committed by men of white ethnicity. The report concluded that data does not show a specific ethnicity bias among perpetrators.
This incident places the government in a difficult position, forcing a senior minister to explain why he appeared to validate a narrative that contradicts official findings and is often exploited by far-right elements.
