Farage calls Musk a 'hero' but admits he is 'reticent' about some of the billionaire's opinions
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called Elon Musk a "hero figure" but added that while he agrees "very strongly" with some of the billionaire's opinions, he is more "reticent" about others.
It comes as Musk's outbursts against the government on X have escalated in recent days in response to their rejection of requests for an inquiry into grooming gangs.
Earlier on Friday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting hit back at Musk saying his criticism of the UK government is "misjudged and misinformed".
Speaking about Musk's criticism of the prime minister and government, Farage said he is “tweeting about everything” and has a “whole range of opinions, some of which I agree with very strongly and others of which are more reticent about.”
When asked why he thinks Musk hates Starmer, Farage said "don't underestimate how shocked Americans are" by the "mass rapes that took place in so many of our towns and cities."
He added that having Musk as “a supporter is very helpful to our cause”.
“He’s an absolute hero figure, particularly to people in this country.”
However, Farage opposed Musk's stance on far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who was jailed in October for 18 months after he admitted repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee, in breach of an injunction.
Musk had called for Robinson to be released from prison on Thursday, with the comment "Free Tommy Robinson!" pinned to the top of his X profile.
But Farage said Robinson is "not what we need".
Meanwhile, Streeting labelled Musk's criticism of the UK government "misjudged and misinformed".
"Some of the criticisms Elon Musk has made I think are misjudged and certainly misinformed, but we're willing to work with Elon Musk who I think has got a big role to play with his social media platform, to help us tackle this issue", the health secretary told broadcasters.
Streeting called on the owner of the X platform to do more to tackle child sexual exploitation online: "If he wants to work with us and roll his sleeves up, we'd welcome that".
In reference to the grooming gangs scandal that rocked a number of towns across the UK ten years ago, the health secretary also said "political correctness was able to get in the way of going after the perpetrators of these serious crimes."
Streeting promised the Labour government is "not going to let that happen".
Discussion around the government's approach to tackling grooming gangs was sparked online after a letter from the Home Office revealed minister Jess Phillips rejected a request for a government-led inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
The government say that's because they support a council-led inquiry, similar to those that have happened in other towns.
Musk amplified the debate when he joined calls for the government to take action on Wednesday, saying Phillips "deserves to be in prison" for her response to Oldham Council.
He also appeared to place blame at the PM's door, as he argued that “rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice” during Starmer's time as director of public prosecutions.
The Conservatives also called for a national inquiry into the UK's "rape gangs scandal", which leader Kemi Badenoch says is "long overdue".
In 2022, the then-Conservative government also refused a request for a public inquiry into events in Oldham.
On Thursday, Musk also called on the King to dissolve Parliament, sharing a post that asks if King Charles "should Dissolve Parliament and order a General Election... for the sake and security of the country?", with the comment, "yes".
It is not the first time the social media platform owner has pushed for a new UK election after he shared a petition in November last year calling for another General Election which has now gained over three million signatures.
Musk wrote on X: "The people of Britain have had enough of a tyrannical police state."
At the time, the prime minister told ITV's This Morning, "that's not how it works", in response to the petition.
An Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse looking at offences between 2010-2014 by multiple organised groups in Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Rochdale and Bristol was published in 2022 and described the sexual abuse of children as an "epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake".
However, in November last year, Professor Alexis Jay said she felt “frustrated” that none of the probe’s 20 recommendations had been implemented more than two years after its conclusion.
A Labour spokesman said the government is “working at pace to implement the recommendations” in Professor Jay’s report and is "working urgently to strengthen the law" to ensure these crimes are properly investigated.
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