Elon Musk has been fiercely criticised for his online attacks on Labour’s safeguarding minister Jess Phillips—attacks which one BBC Question Time panellist called “absolutely disgusting.” According to broadcaster and Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika, the world’s richest man “is not fit to lick Jess Phillips’ boots,” given the MP’s long record of defending women and girls against abuse.
Musk vs. Phillips: A War of Words
Elon Musk kicked off a social media storm when he labelled Jess Phillips a “rape genocide apologist,” and even claimed she should be in jail. Phillips had rejected calls from Oldham Council for a new, national inquiry into child grooming gangs, emphasising that implementing Professor Alexis Jay’s previous recommendations should be the priority.
Hazarika slammed Musk for lobbing aggressive, uninformed accusations:
“If he knew anything about Jess Phillips… he’d realise he’s not fit to lick her boots.”
A Stark Reminder of Political Violence
Hazarika also noted the tragic murders of MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, warning that “words have consequences in real life.” She argued Musk’s vitriol contributes to a dangerous escalation of rhetoric, which can have devastating outcomes.
Grooming Gangs and “Smearing” Entire Communities
The Question Time exchange also highlighted the issue of child grooming gangs—an emotive topic that’s become political dynamite. While Hazarika acknowledged the rightful anger over such crimes, she cautioned against tarring entire groups with the same brush:
“We wouldn’t say all Catholics are paedophiles because of what happened in the Catholic Church. We must not attack all Muslims.”
Her comments reflect the balance between holding perpetrators accountable and avoiding blanket blame on entire religious or ethnic communities.
Government Audit on “Gang-Based Exploitation”
In the wake of renewed focus on grooming scandals, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently announced an audit to gauge the current “scale and nature of gang-based exploitation” across the country. Alongside this, certain areas will see local reviews, hoping to prevent future abuses without demonising entire communities.
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