During her appearance on BBC’s Newsnight, safeguarding minister Jess Phillips discussed the “disinformation” spread by Elon Musk, which she described as a threat to her safety but acknowledged that it paled in comparison to the experiences of abuse victims.
Musk, a tech billionaire and advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump, targeted Phillips on social media, branding her a “rape genocide apologist” and calling for her arrest.
When asked about her safety and whether protective measures were in place in light of Musk’s posts, Phillips confirmed an increased threat to her well-being.
Despite the challenges she faced, Phillips expressed her determination as a woman advocating against violence towards women and girls, stating that she was prepared for the difficulties that come with the territory.
Responding to Musk’s intervention in the UK government’s debate on grooming gangs, Phillips defended her decision to reject a request for a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham. This prompted calls from Conservative and Reform UK parties for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Phillips cited her experience with local inquiries, like the one in Telford, as more effective in bringing about change compared to national inquiries.
She highlighted the success of the Telford inquiry in fostering change and stated her intention to gather council leaders to learn from its outcomes.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which concluded in 2022, offered 20 recommendations that are yet to be implemented. This was pointed out by Prof Alexis Jay, who led the inquiry, emphasizing the need for action at both local and national levels.
On the political front, there are debates surrounding the establishment of a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, with the Labour government facing pressure from the Conservatives to endorse such an inquiry.
Reflecting on Musk’s derogatory remarks towards her, Phillips dismissed them as “ridiculous” and stressed that the current scrutiny she faced would be worth it only if tangible change was achieved.
She affirmed her commitment to making a difference in addressing grooming gangs and challenges to her record on combating violence against women.
In a separate interview with Sky News, Phillips urged Musk to focus on his space endeavors rather than engaging in personal attacks.