Elon Musk, Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson: Everything you need to know about the grooming gangs spat

Look, we don’t blame you if the continuing arguments between Twitter/X proprietor Elon Musk and Reform UK chief Nigel Farage over far-right felony Tommy Robinson and grooming gangs is difficult to maintain up with.

Musk is firing off tweet after tweet concerning the difficulty, whereas Farage has made various media appearances heaping reward on the US tech billionaire’s interventions – regardless of the Tesla boss pondering King Charles can unilaterally dissolve parliament and that Keir Starmer would wish to name one other basic election so quickly after profitable the final one.

So the place precisely did this all start? Permit us to supply a quick timeline to get you up to the mark.

1 January 2025: GB Information stories Jess Phillips has rejected requires a authorities inquiry into youngster sexual exploitation in Oldham

The controversial right-wing information channel reported in the beginning of the yr that it had seen a letter from the Labour safeguarding minister during which she mentioned she understands “the energy of feeling” round an additional inquiry into youngster sexual exploitation within the Better Manchester city, however that it’s “for Oldham Council alone to determine to fee an inquiry” regionally reasonably than have the federal government intervene.

1 January 2025: Musk calls for the discharge of Tommy Robinson

Tommy Robinson, actual identify Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is at the moment in jail serving time for contempt of courtroom after breaching a courtroom order to not defame a Syrian refugee.

But on 1 January, Musk requested: “Why is Tommy Robinson in a solitary confinement jail for telling the reality? He must be freed and those that coated up this travesty ought to take his place in that cell.”

He would go on to name for Robinson’s launch a number of instances over the following few days.

1 January 2025: Musk calls on individuals to “vote Reform” as “the one hope”

Quote tweeting a tweet from one other account referring to grooming gangs, Musk as soon as once more voiced his assist for Farage’s Reform UK.

He had met with Farage and get together treasurer Nick Sweet at Mar-a-Lago final month.

2 January 2025: Musk begins his newest on-line assault in opposition to Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour authorities

We received’t share each single tweet right here as there’s too many, and various them are far too inflammatory, however Musk quickly began criticising the prime minister and Phillips in a number of tweets this week.

On 2 January, he wrote: “Within the UK, severe crimes corresponding to rape require the Crown Prosecution Service’s approval for the police to cost suspects.

“Who was the top of the CPS when rape gangs have been allowed to use younger ladies with out dealing with justice? Keir Starmer, 2008 -2013.

“Who’s the boss of Jess Phillips proper now? Keir Stamer.

“The true cause she’s refusing to research the rape gangs is that it could clearly result in the blaming of Keir Stamer (head of the CPS on the time).”

Subsequent tweets noticed him return to criticising Starmer for the imprisonment of people for social media posts (these have been really associated to the far-right riots final yr, Elon) and accuse Phillips of “shameful conduct” – and far worse – over the aforementioned letter.

4 January 2025: Farage distances himself from Tommy Robinson

When requested about Musk’s feedback on-line by GB Information, Farage hailed the billionaire and potential Reform UK donor as a “hero determine, particularly for the youth”, however that Robinson is “not what we want” inside his political get together.

He mentioned: “[Musk] is attacking the management of Britain. He’s very supportive of me. He’s very supportive of the get together.

“He sees Robinson as one among these those that fought in opposition to the grooming gangs. However in fact the reality is Tommy Robinson’s in jail not for that, however for contempt of courtroom.”

5 January 2025: Farage defends Musk’s feedback

Chatting with Laura Kuenssberg for her flagship BBC programme, in an interview which noticed him requested about Musk’s criticism of Phillips and Starmer, Farage mentioned “robust issues get mentioned… by each side of the talk” and cited his perception in free speech.

5 January 2025: Musk says Reform ‘wants a brand new chief’

In a twist which stunned many given his prior assist for Farage’s Reform UK, Musk tweeted that the get together “wants a brand new chief” and that Farage “doesn’t have what it takes”.

5 January 2025: Farage claps again by standing his floor

Farage quickly responded to Musk’s criticism to voice his disagreement, including that his view “stays that Tommy Robinson just isn’t proper for Reform and I by no means promote out my ideas”.

5 January 2025: Musk voices assist for Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe

Not lengthy after taking a swipe at Farage, Musk responded to at least one Twitter/X consumer asking for his ideas on whether or not Rupert Lowe – the Reform UK MP for Nice Yarmouth – ought to take over from Nigel Farage as get together chief to say he hasn’t met the politician, however “his statements on-line that I’ve learn to date make lots of sense”.

That’s the place issues stand at this level, however control this text as we’ll proceed to replace it with additional developments.

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