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She added: “I’m no stranger to people who don’t know what they’re talking about trying to silence women like me.”<\/p>\n
The row between Musk and the UK government concerns cases of groups of men – mainly of Pakistani descent – being convicted for sexually abusing and raping predominantly white girls around the UK. <\/p>\n
Musk’s intervention came in response to Phillips rejecting a request for the government to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham – which sparked calls from the Conservatives and Reform UK for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.<\/p>\n
Phillips decision was taken in October but first reported by GB News at the start of the year, and then picked up by Musk on his social media platform X. <\/p>\n
Phillips defended the government’s decision not to hold a national inquiry, arguing that local inquiries, such as one held in Telford, were more effective at leading to change. <\/p>\n
“What I saw happen in Telford is the exact opposite of what I have seen happen because of the national expert inquiry for the last two years since it came out – I saw change happen,” she said.<\/p>\n
She said she would be getting council leaders together to learn the lessons from Telford. <\/p>\n
“When people say it’s the council marking their own homework, it isn’t. <\/p>\n
“It is an independent inquiry led locally and it’s the only model I’ve seen work, and I’ve worked in this field for 15 years.”<\/p>\n
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which lasted seven years and reported in 2022, made 20 recommendations – however, none has yet been implemented.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the Today programme earlier Professor Alexis Jay, who led the inquiry, said: “We’ve had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions… we have set out what action is required and people should just get on with it locally and nationally.”<\/p>\n
However, Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick argued that a new national inquiry was needed, saying: “We now know so much more.”<\/p>\n
He added: “The Jay review looked at six towns. We now suspect that at least 50 towns have had grooming gangs of this kind.<\/p>\n
“We can try to prevent other vulnerable young girls from being in this position again, and the frankly cowardly officials and councillors who have covered this up can also be brought to justice.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n