Victims of grooming gangs are demanding a public inquiry and stricter penalties for their abusers following Jess Phillips’ dismissal of a Home Office-led investigation into child sexual exploitation in Oldham. Survivors like Sarah Wilson and Sammy Woodhouse criticized the lack of accountability for police and social workers, asserting that an independent inquiry is necessary. Amidst this, Elon Musk has publicly attacked Sir Keir Starmer, linking him to the inaction on grooming gangs during his tenure as head of the Crown Prosecution Service. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch echoed calls for a national inquiry, emphasizing a need for urgent action to address these systemic issues.
Victims of grooming gangs today spoke out demanding a public inquiry and harsh punishment for their abusers amid a social media war waged by Elon Musk against Sir Keir Starmer.
The row comes as Jess Phillips yesterday rejected Oldham Council’s request for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation, saying instead it was best for local councils to investigate the matter. It started with a suggestion.
Mr Musk, 53, said Mr Phillips “deserves to go to prison”, while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said a full national inquiry into organized grooming gangs was “long overdue”. ” he said.
Sarah Wilson was groomed and raped by pedophiles in Rotherham for five years from the age of 11. One of those incidents was an assault that occurred in the school playground.
She wrote to X: “Jess Phillips needs to hang her head in shame!!!” Those who deny an independent investigation have much to hide. ”
Sammy Woodhouse was just 14 when she met rapist Arshid Hussein, who was jailed for 35 years in 2016. Mr Hussain, known as Mad Ash in Rotherham, was reportedly contacted by the council about the care process.
She told LBC: “I keep reporting the same thing one after the other.” We know what’s going on in this country because people like me have given thousands of interviews to mainstream media to tell them about this country.
“What is not happening is action. Not enough pedophiles are brought to court, and when necessary they walk free. No professionals are held to account.”
Although the proposed public inquiry focused on Oldham, grooming gangs have been busted in many other parts of the country, from Newcastle to Oxford to Bristol. The abusers were primarily Asian men.
Sarah Wilson, a survivor of sexual abuse in Rotherham, has spoken out in support of an “independent investigation” into gang grooming.
Sammy Woodhouse, another victim of a grooming gang in the South Yorkshire town, called for “action” against police, social workers and other professionals who failed to stop the abuse.
Sammy Woodhouse was just 14 when she met rapist Arshid Hussein, who was jailed for 35 years in 2016.
Ms Phillips told the local council that she was aware of the “strong feelings” about the Home Office-led investigation into Oldham, but that the Government would not “intervene”.
“I think it’s only Oldham City Council that would decide to commission a local child sexual exploitation investigation, rather than the government stepping in,” she said.
In response, Musk, a key member of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle, said: “She deserves to go to prison.”
He also seemed to be pushing the blame closer to the prime minister.
“In the UK, when serious crimes such as rape occur, police need approval from the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute a suspect,” Musk said.
“Who was at the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice?” Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.
In a series of posts on his social media site, Mr Musk described the prime minister as “double keel” and said: “There is no justice for serious violent crimes, but there is prison for posting on social media.” he claimed.
Musk also voiced support for activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court in October.
Elon Musk has repeatedly attacked Sir Keir Starmer on social media in recent days
Conservative Party leaders also tried to put pressure on the government over the gang raids.
Mrs Badenoch said: “It is long past time for a full national inquiry into the rape gang scandal.”
“In recent years, trials have been held all over the country, but no one in authority has weighed in. 2025 must be the year victims start receiving justice.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philip and shadow security minister Alicia Kearns called for a statutory inquiry in Oldham.
They said only a public inquiry could “adequately cover the national nature of these crimes and problems” and consider whether reports were “ignored or covered up” by police, the CPS and local councils. Ta.
Again in 2022, the then Conservative government rejected a request for a public inquiry into the events in Oldham.
Today Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor who played a key role in prosecuting the Rochdale grooming gang, rejected calls for a public inquiry.
“Those who argue that a national public inquiry into so-called grooming gangs will result in accountability are the total number of people who went to trial after Sunday’s public inquiry into Hillsborough, Grenfell, Post Office, Blood and Blood of the Infected. “Do you know that there is one person?” he wrote to X.
In his latest attack on Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Musk shared a post asking whether Charles should “for the sake of Britain and our security… dissolve Parliament and order a general election”.
An Oldham Council spokesperson said: “Survivors are at the heart of our work to end child sexual exploitation.”
“No matter what happens in future investigations, we have promised that their wishes will come first, and we will not break that promise.”
Reacting to Mrs Badenoch’s post, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “The story is cheap.” It took the Conservatives 14 years in government to launch an inquiry.
“The establishment has betrayed the victims of gang raids at every level.”
Mr Musk, who is rumored to be considering making a large donation to Mr Farage’s party, responded: “That’s correct.” It’s time for reform. ”
The Independent Commission into Child Sexual Abuse, which released its final report in 2022, described child sexual abuse as an “epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims with its harmful effects”.
The inquiry, led by Professor Alexis Jay, follows multiple convictions for child sex offenses across the UK between 2010 and 2014, including Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Rochdale and Bristol. We investigated abuse by organized groups.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said a full national inquiry into organized grooming gangs was “long overdue”.
In November last year, Professor Jay said he was “frustrated” that none of the inquiry’s 20 recommendations had been implemented more than two years after its findings.
Mr Musk last night even backed calls for King Charles to dissolve Parliament and order a new general election.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting today said the billionaire’s attack on the UK government’s response to child grooming gangs was “misjudged and undoubtedly misinformed”, but said He called on them to work with ministers to address the issue.
Asked if Musk’s comments were unhelpful, Streeting said: “The government takes the issue of child sexual exploitation very seriously.”
“We have seen harrowing reports and experiences of abuse against victims who have had the courage to come forward and speak out about the horrific crimes they have been subjected to.
“We have also seen brave whistleblowers stepping up to speak out and, frankly, political correctness is getting in the way of tracking down the perpetrators of these serious crimes. I’ve seen some shocking examples.
“We will not allow that to happen. This Government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry. We will do that fully. We will continue our work.
“While we believe some of the criticisms made by Elon Musk are misjudged and certainly misinformed, we are happy to work with Elon Musk. Mr. Musk believes social media platforms have a huge role to play in helping us and others.”Countries need to address this serious issue. So if he wants to work with us and roll up his sleeves, we welcome that. ”
A Labor Party spokesperson said the government was “working at increased pace to implement the recommendations” in Professor Jay’s report.
The spokesperson added: “We have supported both a comprehensive national inquiry into reported child abuse in 2022, as well as local independent inquiries and reviews, including in Telford, Rotherham and Greater Manchester. ” he added.
“The Government is urgently working to strengthen the law to ensure these crimes are properly reported and investigated.
“The crime committed by grooming gangs in Oldham was horrific. Young girls were abused in the most cruel and sadistic ways.
“Victims and the community need to know that every step is being taken to ensure justice and properly protect children in the future.
“We welcome and support the independent inquiry commissioned by Oldham Council, which follows the example of Telford and Rotherham and puts the voices of victims at the centre.”
“We will also continue to support the wider work on child protection issues across Greater Manchester, commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham, following the Oldham Historic Safeguarding Inquiry announced in 2022. ”
