Exclusive

'Jess Phillips can fight her own battles,' claims Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader weighs in on grooming gangs row

16 January 2025, 19:54 | Updated: 16 January 2025, 23:07

Elon Musk says Jess Phillips "can fight her own battles" following comments made by Elon Musk
Elon Musk says Jess Phillips "can fight her own battles" following comments made by Elon Musk. Picture: Alamy

By Flaminia Luck

Kemi Badenoch has said Jess Phillips can "fight her own battles" as she weighed in on the grooming gangs row.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Tory leader spoke to LBC's Iain Dale on Thursday evening about Elon Musk - whom she admitted was "rude and insulting" when he described the Birmingham Yardley MP as a "rape genocide apologist" in a tweet, sparking outrage.

In response to the row and subsequent abuse aimed at the Safeguarding Minister, Badenoch said she would not "wade into everybody's battle".

The safeguarding minister previously hit back at the Tesla boss said we shouldn't be listening to a man who knows "absolutely nothing" about grooming gangs in the UK.

He made the comments after she resisted ordering an inquiry into child sexual abuse in Oldham.

Jess Phillips described her fear for her own safety after Elon Musk's abusive posts over grooming gangs
Jess Phillips described her fear for her own safety after Elon Musk's abusive posts over grooming gangs. Picture: Alamy
The official account of Elon Musk
Elon Musk has waded in on a row on grooming gangs in the UK. Picture: Alamy

Badenoch also defended her decision to not sack Robert Jenrick in the shadow cabinet for describing Britons of Pakistani origin as from "alien cultures".

She responded saying that the Conservative Party is a "broad church".

"I consider Rob a friend, we will all have disagreements, there are all sorts of things people say...but I understand where he's coming from...of course we need to be careful about language but we also need to be accurate".

Badenoch also stated she didn't want to see people lumped in with the rapists and the groomers "unfairly".

Read more: 'Why on earth' would we merge with Reform? says Kemi Badenoch in first major speech of 2025

Read more: Yvette Cooper unveils plan for local government-backed grooming gangs inquiries

However, she stressed that not talking about certain aspects of the grooming gangs scandal creates a "vaccuum".

"When people use the phrase 'Asian grooming gangs', even 'Pakistani grooming gangs', what I was actually saying this is a very, very specific community that is over-represented.

"It's not about Pakistan, it's not about people from Lahore.

"But, we mustn't run away from things...the specific cases we are talking about in Telford, Rotherham, Rochdale - there was a prevalence of people from that particular tiny region in Pakistan amongst others.

"If we try not to talk about it, we create a vacuum".

Kemi Badenoch defends Robert Jenrick over 'alien cultures' tweet

The Tory leader also denied the wish to merge the party with Reform UK.

"The fact is Nigel Farage has said he wants to destroy the Conservative party. That for me is a red line."

Badenoch also said it could be up to two years before she announces any policies.

She stated: "I would like to see things in 18 months to two years' time, it may take longer".

She stressed that she wants people to know that the Conservative party is "under new leadership".

"We are drawing a line under the past and we are going to be working very hard to earn the trust of the British people.

"We need to be an effective opposition but we also want to let people know we're going to be doing things differently."

Kemi Badenoch refuses some Tory calls to merge with Nigel Farage's Reform UK

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

oxford street with shoppers

Two arrested in Oxford St 'celebrity romance scam' after victims coerced into sending £200k to 'well-known boyfriends'

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

Most expensive pint revealed.

Most expensive pint in UK pubs revealed

One of the UK's 'most wanted' men sentenced to 12 years in prison after drug dealer evaded police for four years

One of the UK's 'most wanted' fugitives jailed for 12 years after drug dealer hunted down by police in Portugal

Anne Hodgson, 87, and Olwyn Smith, 82, with Dreamboy Max Hunter

Care home residents 'delighted' at male stripper visit

Police at the scene on the Broadway in Stratford

Three men stabbed in east London after 'large brawl' breaks out - with one arrested

The Met Office has issued a weather warning.

Snow and ice could cause disruption tomorrow, as Met Office issues yellow weather warning

Hostages (L-R) Sasha Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn,

Hamas confirms names of Israeli hostages due for release on Saturday

Danielle McLaughlin's killer Baghat was finally found guilty today

Indian man is found guilty of raping and murdering Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in a field in Goa

Starmer welcomes Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, to Downing Street

Starmer tells Zelenskyy Ukraine remains on 'irreversible path to NATO membership' as leaders share phone call

Kayaker Adrian Simancas after being briefly swallowed by a humpback whale

Kayaker breaks silence over 'terrifying' moment he was swallowed whole by humpback whale - then spat back out

William and Kate shared the sweet snap for Valentine's Day

Princess Kate and Prince William share sweet snap to mark Valentine's Day

Kanye West, left, and Bianca Censori arrive at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Kanye West and Bianca Censori shut down ‘split’ rumours as they plan Valentine’s Day together

Pope Francis

Pope Francis to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment

One Briton has died in a car crash in New Zealand

One Brit dead and three fighting for lives after car crashes into tourists’ hired bikes in New Zealand

The woman won an immigration appeal after her marriage was ruled to have lasted long enough for her to be allowed to stay

Ghanaian tourist allowed to live in Britain under Brexit marriage rules even though she did not attend her wedding