Foreign Secretary David Lammy said ‘it’s creating bad faith’ as he said freedom of speech must be based on facts on truths as he defended colleagues Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has warned Elon Musk and his supporters are creating “bad faith” around grooming gangs.
The Labour frontbencher was asked if he had a message for the richest man in the world after his attacks on the UK Government. Mr Lammy said “peddling mistruths” is unfair on victims of the sickening sex crimes.
Pressed on what he would say to Musk, he told BBC Breakfast: “I it’s just that we focus on the truth, we focus on the facts. I recognise that there is a heated debate about free speech, and Elon Musk is at one end of that debate.
“But to have free speech, it must be based on facts and on truth. And some of what we’ve seen online is peddling mistruths, it’s creating bad faith. Is very unfair to those victims.”
The tech billionaire has launched a string of online attacks on Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips after ministers rejected calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal. Labour says it wants to focus on action, not words, and vowed to implement recommendations from a seven-year inquiry into child sex abuse that concluded in 2022.
Mr Lammy said: “”I’ve known Keir Starmer for a very long time, he led on this issue as chief prosecutor when he first brought the cases against those in Rochdale and reformed the CPS. Jess Phillips has done a considerable job standing up for women.
“We’ve had this debate. We’re moving forward and we’re dealing with the horrendous, horrific crimes of paedophilia against young people, young children – vulnerable young children often – and going after those who commit it, I’ve no doubt about that”.
He went on to tell BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I recognise that Elon Musk believes passionately in free speech, and using the forum he has to say effectively what he likes.
“But my own view is that yes, free speech is important, but it must be guided by facts and truth.” He went on to say: “I disagree with him.” The Foreign Secretary continued: “There is a fine line, as you know, between free speech and hate speech. There’s a heated debate, across the global community, on these issues.”
It comes as Musk – who will become part of the Donald Trump administration later this month – continues to agitate against the Government. On Wednesday night he posted on Twitter/X: “”Please call your member of parliament and tell them that the hundreds of thousands of little girls in Britain who were, and are still are, being systematically, horrifically gang-raped deserve some justice in this world. This is vitally important or it will just keep happening.”
And the Financial Times reports that he has discussed with right-wing allies how to oust Keir Starmer before the next General Election. He has thrown his weight behind Reform UK, but in a surprise move on Sunday demanded it appoints a new leader.
Musk said that Nigel Farage does not have “what it takes”. Hours earlier Mr Farage had said the businessman’s support made his party “look cool”.
