In a candid interview with LBC’s Tom Swarbrick, Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk, had a simple message for critics: stop listening to his son’s tweets. Errol’s remarks come after Elon Musk waded into UK politics, accusing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of failing to tackle grooming gangs during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions—a claim that drew sharp rebukes from British leaders.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wasn’t holding back, calling Elon “desperate for attention” and accusing him of spreading lies and “whipping up intimidation.” Starmer said online attacks, particularly those aimed at safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, crossed a line.
Errol, however, seemed unimpressed by his son’s foray into British political discourse. “He’s just a person,” he said. “The fact that he has money or something, he’s a billionaire or something to that effect… Tell him to get lost.”
But the elder Musk wasn’t all criticism. He defended Elon’s interest in the UK, citing a deep familial connection to England. “I took him there when he was six. He even celebrated his 30th birthday in England by renting a castle for a week,” he reminisced.
Despite his affection for the UK, Errol Musk warned of a “draconian” trend in British politics, adding, “If you’re a student of history, and I am, you’d realise what’s going on there.”
Starmer fires back
Meanwhile, Starmer slammed Musk’s online behavior, particularly his support for jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Starmer said such figures aren’t interested in justice, accusing Robinson and his supporters of promoting street violence rather than protecting victims.
Starmer praised Jess Phillips’ dedication to safeguarding victims of sexual abuse, saying, “Jess has done a thousand times more than they’ve even dreamt about.”
The bigger picture
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted progress in tackling child sexual exploitation, noting a 25% increase in arrests made by a police taskforce last year. She credited the Conservative government’s efforts, particularly through advanced analytics programs targeting organized exploitation networks.
Labour MP Paul Waugh added a sobering note, condemning those who have treated child rape as a “political game” rather than an “appalling crime.”
As the political sparring continues, one thing is clear: Elon Musk’s tweets have stirred the pot in UK politics, much to the chagrin—and occasional amusement—of his father.
