Elon Musk has claimed his English grandmother might have been abducted in modern Britain, after Sir Keir Starmer condemned the billionaire’s “lies and misinformation” in a growing row over grooming gangs.
The Tesla boss has launched a series of baseless attacks on Sir Keir and the Labour government over grooming gangs, while also calling for the release of jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson – a development which also saw him turn on Reform leader Nigel Farage on Sunday, claiming he “does not have what it takes” to lead the party.
Conceding that losing Mr Musk’s support would harm Reform, Mr Farage said he would speak to the billionaire during a visit to the US this month to try to “mend any broken fences that might exist”, adding: “I have no desire to go to war with Elon Musk and I’m not going to.”
It came as Professor Alexis Jay, who authored the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, warned that the row over calls for a new national inquiry into child sexual abuse is “distracting from the issues”.
Key Points
- Elon Musk claims his grandmother might have been abducted in modern Britain
- Errol Musk suggests British public are free to ignore his son’s interventions
- Yvette Cooper says it will be an offence to fail to report or cover up child sexual abuse
- Nigel Farage says he will try to ‘mend any broken fences’ with Musk
- Tories urged to sack Robert Jenrick over ‘alien cultures’ comments
Reform ‘probably dodged a bullet’ on Musk donation, Tory defector says
12:12
Andy Gregory
Reform has “probably dodged a bullet” in not receiving the multimillion pound reportedly being mulled by Elon Musk, a recent Tory defector to the party has said in the wake of the billionaire’s attack on Nigel Farage.
Tim Montgomerie, founder of the ConservativeHome website who joined Reform last month after 33 years as a Tory member, told BBC Newsnight: “I think Elon Musk is a brilliant man. He’s the Da Vinci of our age in many ways. Look at Tesla, look at SpaceX, look at Twitter.
“But you can’t tweet 20 times in an hour on different subjects and know what you’re talking about all the time. There’s a thin line between craziness and genius, and I think on occasions recently we’ve definitely seen Elon Musk go on the crazy side of that line.
“And I think Reform have probably dodged a bullet. If that had happened a little while ago, they might have had money that they would have had to pay back. Not getting that money now is probably going to turn out to be an advantage. I didn’t think that six weeks ago, but I do now.”
Robert Jenrick clashes with BBC’s Nick Robinson over grooming gang row
12:01
Andy Gregory
Robert Jenrick has defended the Conservatives’ record on bringing justice to victims of the grooming gang scandal during a heated clash with BBC Radio 4 Today presenter Nick Robinson, my colleague Lucy Leeson reports.
The shadow justice secretary was asked four times by the frustrated BBC journalist if he raised tougher sentences for grooming gang perpetrators when he was Home Office minister, between October 2022 and December 2023.
Mr Jenrick replied: “I did discuss this with the home secretary, I wrote about this last year and I was criticised about it.”
Mr Robinson then proceeded to tell the Tory MP he had not raised the issue – after checking search terms such as “grooming”, “grooming gangs”, “Rotherham”, “Oldham”, “Rochdale” and “child sexual abuse” in Hansard and finding no records under Mr Jenrick’s name in the parliamentary record.
When did the row between Sir Keir and Mr Musk begin?
11:48
Andy Gregory
The row between the prime minister and the US tech billionaire had its origins in the riots that took place over summer in England and Northern Ireland.
Misinformation allowed to run rife on Musk’s social media platform X was blamed for helping to fuel racist far-right riots and attacks, sparking a crackdown on inflammatory social media posts associated with the disorder.
In Sir Keir’s first press conference following the violence that broke out in the wake of the Southport stabbings, he issued a direct warning to “large social media companies and those who run them”, saying that “violent disorder was clearly whipped up online.”
"That is also a crime”, the prime minister said. “It is happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere."
In response, Musk zeroed in on the efforts to police incendiary posts, accusing the UK of “two-tier” policing – a far-right claim suggesting police are taking a softer approach with left-wing and Islamic protesters than they are with white working-class protesters.
The row reached its peak after Musk claimed that “civil war is inevitable” in Britain, leading to condemnation from Downing Street, with a spokesperson warning there is “no justification for comments like that”.
While the immediate tension died down after the riots subsided, it was clear damage had been done to the relationship between the UK government and Mr Musk, with the Starmer administration opting not to invite the billionaire to a major investment summit held in London in October.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has more details:
Elon Musk claims his own English grandmother might have been abducted in modern Britain
11:31
Andy Gregory
In his latest intervention, Elon Musk has suggested that his own English grandmother might have been abducted had she lived in modern Britain.
The billionaire wrote on X: “My British grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, was an important part of my childhood. She was very strict, but also kind and I could always count on her.
“She grew up very poor in England during the Great Depression only to be bombed in WW2. To earn money for food, she cleaned houses, leaving me with a lasting respect for those who do so.
“My Nana was one of the poor working-class girls with no one to protect her who might have been abducted in present day Britain.”
Badenoch urged to sack Jenrick over ‘immigrants with alien cultures’ comments
11:10
Andy Gregory
Kemi Badenoch has been urged to sack Robert Jenrick after he suggested the Tories could cap immigration from “alien cultures with medieval attitudes towards women”.
Mr Jenrick was condemned on Sunday over his original claim by former Conservative special advisor Samuel Kasumu, who told the BBC his “blood was boiling” over the comments, adding: “I think Robert Jenrick has the potential to be the most divisive person in our political history.”
As the Tory frontbencher doubled down on his remarks on Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats called for Ms Badenoch to sack him.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Calls for general election ballooned after ‘foreign interference’, MP claims
10:59
Andy Gregory
Calls for a general election ballooned after “foreign interference”, a Labour MP has claimed.
Yasmin Qureshi warned the “Call A General Election” petition may have collected some of its 3.02 million signatures as a result of “misinformation” and campaigners abroad.
But Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh suggested dismissing the signatories’ concerns might lead to the rise of “populism”, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned of “utter disenchantment with the entire political system”.
The petition on the House of Commons website, which members of the public can use a UK postcode to sign, reads: “I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election.”
Some MPs in Westminster Hall groaned on Monday when Ms Qureshi said: “This petition has grown, some of it to do with a lot of misinformation, some of it to do with foreign interference. You may laugh at it, but that happens to be correct as well.”
Will Durrant reports:
Farage says he is meeting constituents regularly in Clacton
10:37
Andy Gregory
Nigel Farage said he has bought a house in Clacton and was “meeting lots of constituents on a regular basis”.
The Reform UK leader has previously been criticised for not holding surgeries in his Essex constituency, with some suggesting he has spent more time abroad than in Clacton. He plans to visit the United States later this month for Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Farage said he was planning a “massive event” for small businesses in Clacton later in January and was “out meeting constituents I bet far more than any MP has done for many, many years in Clacton”.
Adding that he had bought a house in Clacton, he said: “That’s why you can see me out, often on a Saturday morning, out buying the essentials – limes, tonic, all that sort of thing.
“So I’m out meeting lots of constituents on a regular basis and, you know, actually working with community groups, and I’ve made a few donations to some local charities personally, I’m thoroughly enjoying the job.”
Starmer holds first Cabinet meeting of 2025
10:23
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer is holding his first Cabinet meeting of 2025, after a major speech on Monday in which he announced new NHS reforms and criticised Elon Musk’s “lies and misinformation”.
The meeting also comes after home secretary Yvette Cooper announced that the professionals who work with children will face criminal sanctions if they do not report child sexual abuse – as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Ms Cooper told MPs on Monday evening that a “significant package of measures” will be announced by the government in the next few weeks aimed at tackling online child sexual exploitation.
Robert Jenrick says he ‘will not tiptoe around issue’ when pressed on grooming gangs rhetoric
10:19
Andy Gregory
Tory MP Robert Jenrick has denied that a claim from an ex-Tory race adviser that some of his words “may result in people maybe even dying” gives him pause for thought in his rhetoric around grooming gangs.
The shadow justice secretary was confronted with remarks by Samuel Kasumu on Sunday in which the ex-Tory adviser said: “I think Robert Jenrick has the potential to be the most divisive person in our political history. I think some of his words over the last 12 months may result in some people maybe even dying, because he has the potential to incite hatred in ways that I have never seen.”
Pressed on whether this makes him “pause for one second”, Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think that’s complete nonsense. Look, MPs have been killed in this country in recent times by a jihadist and by a neo-Nazi. They were killed because of the views of those individuals.”
He added: “We have to fight extremism in this country wherever we find it. And you fight that by standing up to the extremists, you don’t fight it by shying away, by turning a blind eye, by looking the other way. I’m not going to do that, I’m not going to tiptoe around this issue.”
Earlier in the interview, Mr Jenrick described child sexual exploitation as “one of the most appalling racially aggravated crimes in our country’s history”, and alleged that Pakistani men are “over-represented in those who are involved in the grooming gangs”.
Professor Alexis Jay’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found a lack of data meant it was “impossible to know whether any particular ethnic group is over-represented as perpetrators of child sexual exploitation by networks”.
Farage says he will not take legal action against Kemi Badenoch
09:58
Andy Gregory
Nigel Farage has said he will not take legal action against Kemi Badenoch over her claim Reform UK had faked its membership numbers.
He told LBC: “I’m not going to sue over it because, as I said, I do believe in free speech. I was offended by it, I asked for an apology and one wasn’t given so I’m going to go to her constituency on the 31st of this month.
“I’m going to hold a big event for all the Reform members living in her constituency, there are 417 of them when I last checked, paid-up members, bet it’s more than she’s got. There’s another 800 supporters living in the constituency.
“And I’m going to do a big joint photo, Kemi, and say ‘these are all our fake members and we are coming for you at the next election’.”
Reform prepared to set up unofficial inquiry into grooming gangs, Farage says
09:41
Andy Gregory
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said that his party would be prepared to set up an unofficial inquiry into grooming gangs if the government did not act within “a few weeks”.
He told LBC radio: “I honestly believe that through the police, through social services, through the last days of the Labour Government, through the entirety of the last Conservative government, there has been a concerted attempt to play this down for fear of what it might do, for fear of being called racist.
“The irony is that the attacks themselves were racist. This was anti-white female racism – of that, I have no doubt.”
Mr Farage said he could raise the money to fund an inquiry, and although it would not have legal powers to compel witnesses to attend, there would be an outcry if anyone did not co-operate.
“I will have no difficulty in raising the money to do this, whatsoever. We’ll appoint independent ex-judges and experts,” he said. “I won’t have the statutory powers but I tell you what, I think this would garner such massive public support that anybody asked to appear that didn’t appear would look terrible.”
More needed to tackle child abuse in Britain, whistleblower says
09:34
Andy Gregory
Child abuse is still happening in Britain and there are a range of issues which are hampering efforts to tackle it, a campaigner has said.
Whistleblower Maggie Oliver, a former detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in 2012, told Times Radio: “It’s about a lack of resources, a lack of training, not prioritising these cases, still victim blaming and judging them, a lack of experience in police forces now, but for me, the buck stops at the top. If this is a priority – invest, commit.
“There are many people out there who know exactly what’s needed but it is more than just a criminal justice problem. It is a societal problem that needs multiple strands and different ways of tackling.
“Every victim of child abuse will not get their day in court but every victim needs help and support and compassion and kindness, and that is really the bigger picture.”
Farage: ‘I have no desire to go to war with Elon Musk'
09:27
Andy Gregory
Losing Elon Musk’s support would harm Reform UK but the relationship can be mended, Nigel Farage has said, after the billionaire called him to be replaced as the party’s leader because he “does not have what it takes”.
Speaking during a phone-in on LBC, the Reform leader said he would be in the United States “for a good sort of four or five days” for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, during which time he would meet billionaire Mr Musk.
Mr Farage said: “I have no desire to go to war with Elon Musk and I’m not going to, and I haven’t done. I’m a huge admirer of him, I think he’s an heroic figure.”
Asked whether losing his support would weaken Reform UK, Mr Farage said: “Not having Elon’s support would damage us with that younger generation because he kind of makes us look cool, so I’m being frank about that and I am confident that whatever has been said, we can mend. I really think we can.”
He added: “It’s not crucial. I mean look, if I was to embrace, as it looks like I was being urged to do, the sort of violent thuggish people like [Tommy] Robinson, that would do our party immense harm, and probably rightly so.
“So the fact that I’ve stood up on a point of principle, even if in the short term its to my detriment, in the long run may even work in our favour. Of course I want his support, of course I will talk to him in America in a few days’ time, of course I want to mend any broken fences that might exist. I’m sure we can do it.”
Telford grooming scandal survivors criticise Elon Musk’s attack on Jess Phillips
09:10
Andy Gregory
Survivors of the Telford grooming scandal have criticised Elon Musk’s attack on Jess Phillips, praising the safeguarding minister as having “devoted her life to fighting for women and girls”.
In a letter coordinated by the campaign group Killed Women and shared with The Guardian, three survivors of the grooming scandal in Telford and four others who have lost a female relative to gender-based violence or have suffered domestic abuse, criticised the billionaire after he baselessly labelled Ms Phillips a “rape genocide apologist”.
“We write as victims of extreme male violence,” the letter said. “What connects us all beyond our shared trauma is the support and kindness we have received from Jess Phillips over many years, personally and as activists fighting for change.
“We know there are those who would weaponise our pain for their own ends or political gain; who speak out with new-found interest, not to tackle the horrendous crimes that stole so much from us, but to further their own agenda. They should hang their heads in shame.
“As campaigners and activists, we fight every day to stop what happened to us or our loved ones happening to anyone else. We stand by Jess, knowing she has devoted her life to fighting for women and girls.”
Full report: Yvette Cooper says professionals to face criminal sanctions for failing to report child abuse
09:02
Andy Gregory
The home secretary has announced the professionals who work with children will face criminal sanctions if they do not report child sexual abuse – as recommended by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Yvette Cooper told MPs that a “significant package of measures” will be announced by the government in the next few weeks aimed at tackling online child sexual exploitation.
She also defended her decision not to launch a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, despite calls from Reform UK and Conservative politicians, as well an online backlash from multi-billionaire Elon Musk.
She also said that the government plans to introduce a victims and survivors panel to oversee reforms and make grooming an aggravating factor in child sexual offences.
Holly Evans reports:
Government will not introduce a new cabinet minister for children
08:55
Andy Gregory
The victims minister has said that the government will not introduce a new Cabinet-level minister responsible specifically for children, as recommended by Professor Alexis Jay in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Alex Davies-Jones told Times Radio: “We already have a Cabinet member responsible for children – Bridget Phillipson.”
Ms Davies-Jones said that preventing child sexual exploitation was also the responsibility of a wider group of ministers, including herself and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, adding: “This is something that is all of our responsibility across government to deliver.”
Calls for new review ‘distracting from issues’, child abuse inquiry chair warns
08:43
Andy Gregory
Professor Alexis Jay, who authored the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, said the row over calls for a new national inquiry into child sexual abuse is “distracting from the issues”.
She declined to answer when asked whether she felt US billionaire Elon Musk knew what was going on in Oldham, where the council has been refused a public inquiry.
But Prof Jay told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have heard very little in the last few days about the appalling and lifelong effects that child sexual abuse can have on people.”
“I am pleased that the subject matter and the inquiry recommendations are finally getting the attention they deserve but this is definitely not the way I would have chosen for it to happen, but it has had the effect of moving on the agenda,” she said.
Prof Jay agreed the plans for new legislation introduced by home secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday had happened quicker than it might otherwise have done, saying: “It [the row] may well have given it some kind of impetus to move forward.”
British public can ignore my son, says Errol Musk
08:36
Andy Gregory
Errol Musk has said that the UK public are free to ignore his son Elon.
Asked what he would say to people who want his son to stop “sticking his oar” into British politics, Mr Musk told LBC: “Well people don’t have to listen to what he says. I mean, he’s just a person.
“The fact that he has money, is a billionaire or something to that effect – I mean, hundreds of thousands of people are tweeting the same things.
“Or just don’t listen to him then, that’s what I’d say. Just tell him to get lost.”
"Don't listen to him then. Tell him to get lost."
— LBC (@LBC) January 6, 2025
Errol Musk gives @TomSwarbrick1 his advice for people who don't like what his son Elon is tweeting. pic.twitter.com/yEbZXM8NZR
Whistleblower says Starmer ‘out of touch'
08:03
Athena Stavrou
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as a former director of public prosecutions, is “out of touch” with how the country feels about the way grooming gangs have been dealt with, according to whistleblower Maggie Oliver.
Ms Oliver, a former detective who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in 2012, told LBC Radio: “He was the director of public prosecutions. He is front and centre for me, the buck stops at the top.”
On Monday, the Prime Minister defended his record as DPP between 2008 and 2013 after Elon Musk accused him of failing at that time to bring “rape gangs” to justice.
Ms Oliver said of Sir Keir: “The comments he made yesterday really made me feel that he is out of touch with the mood of the country.
“Yet again, people now know what’s happened – you know those years ago, nobody did.”
Alexis Jay urges government to ‘get on with’ inquiry recommendations
07:58
Athena Stavrou
Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, said “people should just get on with” implementing the recommendations made in previous inquiries into child sexual abuse rather than holding another one.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Prof Jay said she did not agree that more national inquiries should take place.
“We have learned a lot from those reviews that have already been undertaken. Locally people need to step up to the mark and do the things that have been recommended,” she said.
“I think that the time has passed for more inquiries. We’ve had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions and especially for those victims and survivors who’ve had the courage to come forward, and they clearly want action.
“We have set out what action is required and people should just get on with it. Locally and nationally.”
Watch: Elon Musk’s father says ‘good chance’ Tommy Robinson will be prime minister one day
07:55
Athena Stavrou
Victims minister will not back calls for another national inquiry
07:47
Athena Stavrou
Alex Davies-Jones has said she will not support a move to set up a new national inquiry into child grooming gangs.
The victims minister said the government will instead focus on implementing the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which was set up in 2015 led by Prof Alexis Jay.
When asked if the inquiry was satisfactory, Davies-Jones told BBC Breakfast: “I think that inquiry was very broad and wide ranging. We owe it to those victims to get on with the job - more actions less words - and deliver on those recommendations.”
No new Cabinet minister role to be created for children, victim minister says
07:38
Athena Stavrou
The victims minister said the Government would not create a specific Cabinet minister responsible for children, as recommended by Professor Alexis Jay, saying one already existed.
Alex Davies-Jones told Times Radio: “We already have a Cabinet member responsible for children, Bridget Phillipson.”
She added that preventing child sexual exploitation was also the responsibility of a wider group of ministers, including herself and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips.
Ms Davies-Jones said: “This is something that is all of our responsibility across Government to deliver.”
Victims minister says government working on inquiry recommendations
07:30
Athena Stavrou
The victims minister was unable to provide a timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, saying the Government was working “quickly”.
Alex Davies-Jones told Times Radio: “I can’t give you a timeline but what I can tell you is we are working very, very quickly.
“A lot of these recommendations can be implemented quickly. As you heard from the Home Secretary yesterday, we’ve already begun that work and some of those new offences that have been announced will be in our Crime and Policing Bill brought in later this year.”
Adding that the Government would provide “more information soon”, she said: “I want to do this as quickly as possible. It’s very complicated, this is not a quick fix overnight.”
Musk continues X attack on Starmer
07:23
Athena Stavrou
Elon Musk has continued his attack on Sir Keir Starmer as he calls the UK prime minister “evil” on his social media platform, X.
In a series of posts overnight, the Tesla boss said UK politicians were “in for a rude awakening” as he replied to a user saying it was a “big mistake” for them to “run their mouths about our country and Elon”.
Reacting to the resignation of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Mr Musk wrote: “Trudeau is gone, Starmer will be soon.”
He also dubbed Starmer as “evil”.
They are in for a rude awakening
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2025
Robert Jenrick calls for ‘more to be done’ to tackle child grooming
07:12
Athena Stavrou
Child sexual exploitation is “one of the most appalling racially aggravated crimes in our country’s history”, Robert Jenrick has said.
Asked whether the Conservatives had done enough to tackle the issue in government, the shadow justice secretary repeatedly told BBC Breakfast “more needs to be done”.
He said: “Clearly more needed to be done, that’s why I think we have to take this forward, that’s why we do need to have a fully national inquiry.”
Arguing that “a number of significant steps were taken” by Conservative home secretaries, Mr Jenrick also called for perpetrators to receive whole-life sentences.
He said: “I have long advocated going further than that and saying you should have a full-life sentence if you are a grooming gang perpetrator, so you never see the light of day, so you go to jail, you don’t step foot out on the streets of our country in 10 years or so, as is happening at the moment.
“This is one of the most appalling racially aggravated crimes in our country’s history. It must be taken more seriously by everyone.”
Starmer should summon US ambassador over Musk remarks, Lib Dems say
07:00
Andy Gregory
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said that the US ambassador should be summoned over Elon Musk’s online attacks, after the billionaire suggested that “America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government”.
Sir Ed said: “People have had enough of Elon Musk interfering with our country’s democracy when he clearly knows nothing about Britain.
“It’s time to summon the US ambassador to ask why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK Government should be overthrown.”
Jon Sopel | Make no mistake, Farage has a real Musk problem
07:00
Andy Gregory
In his latest piece for Independent Voices, Jon Sopel writes:
You know that moment when your child gets home from school and you’re aware something bad has happened? Then, it all comes out: the person your child thought was his new best mate isn’t that nice after all. And he’s worried that his other longstanding friend might side with him, because the other two seem really tight. And you listen attentively, if slightly bewildered, to learn the spat is all the fault of that horrid kid in the class, Tommy.
Well, in this story it’s Nigel Farage who’s fallen out with the school’s Mr Flash – Elon Musk... all because Nige hasn’t shown loyalty to another kid, Tommy (Robinson, of course), who has been expelled. And Farage is worried that his longstanding best friend, Donald Trump, might side with Elon because they seem inseparable – always hanging around the playground together, sniggering at the back of the classroom, Elon letting Don copy his algebra homework.
If it wasn’t so consequential for British politics, it might be easy just to play it for laughs.
But it does matter. Having played an outsized role in the US presidential election in November – and few can doubt Musk’s significance, both in terms of financial muscle and his alleged recalibration of the X algorithm to promote and amplify Trump’s messages – it looks like the world’s richest man is turning to the UK as his next political playground.
Tory MP James Cleverly criticises Starmer’s condemnation of ‘far-right bandwagon'
06:45
Andy Gregory
Tory MP James Cleverly has criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s criticism of politicians “calling for inquiries because they want to jump on a bandwagon of the far-right” in relation to Elon Musk’s grooming gangs claims.
The former Tory leadership hopeful said: “When will Starmer and Labour learn? Accusing those who disagrees with him, or who seeks legitimate answers about repeated failures of child protection, as ‘far right’ is deeply insulting and counterproductive.
“He is the best recruiting sergeant for extremism.”
Starmer pledges to fight for NHS ‘day and night’
06:30
Andy Gregory
Starmer pledges to fight for NHS ‘day and night’
Rebuilding the NHS is the cornerstone of rebuilding Britain, the prime minister said, as he pledged to fight for the health service “day and night”.
Giving a speech at a hospital in Surrey on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled more detail about his plans for slashing NHS waiting lists, with the aim of slashing the number of people waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment in England by nearly half a million over the next year.
Speaking with rolled up sleeves in front of a raft of frontline NHS workers and health secretary Wes Streeting, the prime minister promised to reform the health service from “top to bottom”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Surrey:
Editorial | Wes Streeting is right – if Labour delivers on NHS reform, that’ll be its legacy
06:00
The Independent View
Challenged by Laura Kuenssberg on breakfast television about why the government had failed to explain itself very well, health secretary Wes Streeting gave the only response a politician of his stature could: he dodged the question.
He was, in fact, right to do so. The government’s “presentational” shortcomings have been so crashingly obvious it wasn’t worth Mr Streeting trying to prove the opposite. Choices have been made but not justified; and the broad narrative about why the sacrifices now being asked of the public will yield better outcomes has scarcely been developed.
Mr Streeting wasn’t going to try and remedy six months of failing communications in one 20-minute segment on TV. He’s far too clever for that.
Instead, at least so far as his brief, the NHS and social care, is concerned, Mr Streeting offered a more candid and useful message: “The only thing that really matters in the end is delivery.”
Watch: Starmer defends handling of grooming gangs scandal as he hits back at Jess Phillips abuse
05:00
Andy Gregory
ICYMI: Trump jokes about fat coyotes needing weight-loss drugs in call with Starmer
04:00
Andy Gregory
Donald Trump joked in his last call with Sir Keir Starmer about coyotes needing weight-loss drugs after becoming fat feasting on the remains of birds killed by flying into wind turbines.
Despite a partial transcription of the conversation published by Downing Street in December, which said the prime minister congratulated the president-elect before the pair discussed “the close and historic relationship between the UK and the US”, it has been reported Mr Trump veered wildly off course.
At one point during the call, Mr Trump is said to have become obsessed with the number of birds dying by flying into wind turbines, joking that coyotes in the US were becoming so fat they could need weight-loss medication.
Analysis | Trump could be next after angry Musk turns on Farage
03:00
Andy Gregory
There is an old Asian proverb which goes along the lines of: “He who rides the tiger must beware lest he end up inside.” Nigel Farage might be reflecting on that after his spectacular fall-out with the world’s richest man on an otherwise quiet Sunday.
Making an ally of X (Twitter) owner Elon Musk with his vast wealth and enormous influence was always going to be too tempting to refuse for a man who, for the first time in his political career, feels like he has a sniff of actually winning power.
The power of a giant social media platform and the possibility of $100m in funds seemed to be a surefire way of getting a shortcut to turning British politics on its head again, after doing it once already with Brexit.
After all, Musk had done exactly that for Farage’s friend and political ally Donald Trump in the recent US elections. What could possibly go wrong?
Our political editor David Maddox has more analysis here:
Jenrick repeats call for inquiry in grooming gangs
02:00
Andy Gregory
The Tory shadow justice secretary has repeated calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Robert Jenrick said: “Starmer’s Government has launched more than 60 reviews since taking office, but won’t launch a national inquiry into rape gangs. Why? There is no acceptable excuse.
“Unlike during the last government, Oldham Council have now requested Government support and say they are not best-placed to conduct a review.
“Victims now demand a national inquiry. Previous reviews have looked at specific places and elements of the scandal, but nothing has explored it in totality. Such grave state failure warrants the same form of national inquiry we have undertaken in the past. Nothing less is acceptable.”
Video report: London stock market hit by biggest exodus since global financial crisis
01:00
Andy Gregory
Starmer suffers biggest drop in approval ratings since John Major, polls suggest
Monday 6 January 2025 23:59
Andy Gregory
Sir Keir Starmer has now suffered a bigger drop in approval ratings at this point in office than any new prime minister since Sir John Major in 1992, with The Independent’s latest Techne UK tracker poll showing a three-way battle between Labour, the Tories and Reform UK ahead of May’s local elections.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Streeting defends pace of reforms to social care
Monday 6 January 2025 23:00
Andy Gregory
Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier defended the pace of the government’s social care reforms.
He told the Commons: “The truth is whether it was Gordon Brown and Andy Burnham in 2010 or Theresa May in 2017, we can see how the extent of party political wrangling and rancour and sometimes opportunism has sunk well-meaning attempts to grasp the nettle of reform.
“And on the question of pace, just to reassure people, in the first six months, we have already legislated for fair pay agreements, delivered the biggest expansion of care allowance since the 1970s, injected immediately funding into the disabled facilities grant – £86m and another £86m to follow from April, £711m in total over the next year – as well as the increased spending power for local government in the budget of £880m for social care specifically.”
Chair of child sexual abuse inquiry calls for government to act
Monday 6 January 2025 22:00
Andy Gregory
The former head of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse has called for the “full implementation” of reforms set out in her 2022 report amid calls in Westminster for the government to launch a fresh review.
Professor Alexis Jay distanced herself from demands for a new independent probe and urged instead the introduction of measures like a child protection authority which she recommended two years ago.
She said: “Our mission is not to call for new inquiries but to advocate for the full implementation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse’s IICSA recommendations. A child protection authority is critical to this process.”
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Streeting hits out at Tory failure to acknowledge role in ‘deep mess and malaise’
Monday 6 January 2025 21:30
Andy Gregory
Health secretary Wes Streeting has hit out at the Tories criticisms of Labour.
Mr Streeting told MPs: “It seems to be the Conservative line across the board now that says ‘you had 14 years in opposition, why haven’t you sorted it all out in 6 months?’ Can I just gently say: you had 14 years in government, it’ll take longer than 6 months to clean up your mess.”
He added: “Honestly, I do think that Conservative contributions to discussions in this House might have more credibility and a stronger landing zone if they did at least acknowledge their part in the deep mess and malaise that they created in the last 14 years.”
Tories to attempt to amend legislation to require full grooming gangs inquiry
Monday 6 January 2025 21:00
Andy Gregory
The Conservatives will attempt to amend the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to require a full national inquiry into grooming gangs, Kemi Badenoch has said.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Badenoch said: “I was serious when I said it’s time to get justice for victims. So on Wednesday, Conservatives will put forward an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to require a full national inquiry into the rape gangs grooming scandal.
“If the amendment is selected, I hope MPs from all parties will vote to support the inquiry, so we can do right by the victims and end the culture of cover ups.”
John Healey admits UK has not had any talks with Trump’s team over crumbling Chagos deal
Monday 6 January 2025 20:30
Andy Gregory
The UK has not had any discussions with the incoming Trump administration over the crumbling Chagos Islands deal, the defence secretary has admitted, amid growing concerns over the future of the agreement.
While the outgoing Joe Biden administration supported the deal, Donald Trump’s team is looking for a way to veto it as a result of concerns over possible Chinese interference.
The Chagos Islands, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, are seen as strategically important in southeast Asia as America uses the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia for ships and long-range bombers.
Asked to outline exactly what discussions have been had between ministers and the incoming Trump administration on the future of the Diego Garcia base, John Healey admitted that no talks have yet taken place.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
