Liz Truss Hits Back After Jess Phillips Says She Started 'Far-Right Bandwagon' Over Grooming Gangs
Liz Truss has rejected claims from minister Jess Phillips that she started the 'far-right bandwagon' over a grooming gangs probe.
The government suddenly decided to hold a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal over the weekend.
The announcement was a shock, considering prime minister Keir Starmer accused any politicians calling for such a probe of 'jumping onto a far-right bandwagon' back in January.
The grooming gangs scandal went viral at the start of the year when tech magnate and then-Donald Trump ally Elon Musk called safeguarding minister Phillips a 'rape genocide apologist' for not ordering a national inquiry into the historic abuse.
While defending her boss's past remarks last night, Phillips claimed former Tory prime minister Truss actually 'started' that far-right bandwagon.
The minister told BBC Newsnight: 'I think that what the prime minister was saying – this was in the wake of Elon Musk furore – was that the Conservative politicians, Kemi Badenoch, the shadow home secretary Chris Philp, he was saying they were 'jumping on the bandwagon of Elon Musk.'
Phillips then interrupted herself, noting: 'I think it was actually Liz Truss, she gets forgotten in all this story, Liz Truss who started it and then Elon Musk carried it on.'
On Tuesday morning, Truss replied on X: 'I accused Jess Phillips of excusing masked Islamist thugs – which she did.
'And of rejecting Oldham's calls for a government inquiry into grooming gangs – which she did.
'It was not a 'far-right bandwagon'.
'It was about holding her to account for her complete dereliction of duty.'
I accused @jessphillips of excusing masked Islamist thugs - which she did.And of rejecting Oldham's calls for a Government inquiry into grooming gangs - which she did.It was not a "far-right bandwagon".It was about holding her to account for her complete dereliction of… https://t.co/UinZCDgbQh
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) June 17, 2025
Labour insisted in January that a fresh inquiry was not needed as they were still implementing the recommendations from a 2022 report into the scandal, despite substantial backlash.
The prime minister has now U-turned, and claims to be following the recommendations of the new independent review from Baroness Casey into child sexual exploitation.
The Conservatives have subsequently called on Starmer to apologise for his 'far-right' accusations.
But Phillips told the BBC that Starmer was essentially just asking the Tories: 'Where have you been?'
She pointed out that Badenoch was the children's minister and Chris Philp was the policing minister under the last Tory government.
Phillips also rejected claims that the 'far-right bandwagon' accusation was a 'knee-jerk reaction' to their opponents on the right.
She said: 'I think it was because they're politicians who have never cared and thought it was political expedient.'
'We Have Lost More Than A Decade': Labour Unveils 'Damning' Results Of Grooming Gang Review
Top Tory's 'Excuse' As To Why Party Didn't Call Grooming Gangs Inquiry In Office Torn Apart
Keir Starmer Performs Major U-Turn As He Backs National Inquiry Into Groomings Gangs
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