UK lawmakers reject inquiry into 'rape gang scandal' amid Musk's pressure

On Wednesday, British lawmakers rejected a proposal to launch a national inquiry into the U.K. grooming gang scandal due to opposition to the voting process and intense scrutiny from the international community, particularly Elon Musk.

An amendment was proposed in the House of Commons to conduct a statutory inquiry into the scandal involving the sexual abuse of girls by men of predominantly Pakistani heritage in towns in northern England.

The Labour government backed a bill aimed at improving children's well-being in schools. However, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer cautioned that approving an amendment to the bill would jeopardize its overall passage. The amendment was ultimately rejected by 364 votes to 111 in the Labour-controlled chamber, as reported by Sky News.

"We must act now. It is unacceptable that this afternoon, members on the opposite side will vote down a bill that safeguards children," Starmer stated before the vote, labeling it a "destructive amendment."

Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch pushed back.

She advised him to lead, not to lawyer, as she suggested a new investigation into the linked issues among the towns.

"The national inquiry is crucial because the issue is systemic and involves local and national officials, the police, prosecutors, and politicians."

Local inquiries alone cannot fully address these interconnected problems, she stated.

Evidence of "appalling" abuse was found in previous reports, with over 1,400 girls abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013. Additionally, reports revealed that authorities were hesitant to address the crimes due to the ethnic makeup of the perpetrators, fearing that doing so would stoke racism. This scandal contributed to growing concerns about multiculturalism and mass immigration.

Recently, Oldham officials urged the government to launch a national investigation into the town's handling of the crisis, following a 2022 report that found officials had failed children. Despite concerns that the report would be exploited by right-wing activists, no cover-up was found.

The U.K. government rejected the request for a national inquiry, stating that any investigation should be conducted locally. This prompted calls for a national inquiry from Badenoch and Musk.

Thousands of girls were tortured and sexually abused by men who treated them as disposable objects, resulting in the destruction of many lives. The prime minister has acknowledged previous inquiries into child sexual abuse, but the focus was not on the rape gang scandal, as Badenoch pointed out.

Before the vote, Musk, who has been relentlessly pushing for action on X and has called for the prosecution of top U.K. government officials, including Starmer, made another appeal to the British public.

On Wednesday, Musk stated on X that the hundreds of thousands of little girls in Britain who were, and still are, being systematically and horrifically gang-raped deserve justice in this world.

If it doesn't happen, it will keep happening, he said.

Previously, Starmer had criticized "lies and misinformation" without mentioning Musk specifically and had accused U.K. politicians of joining the "far-right bandwagon."

On Wednesday, he once more accused Badenoch of joining a trend and urged legislators to ensure the comprehensive bill passed.

"The bill includes a provision to safeguard vulnerable children who are currently out of school, preventing any future abuses from taking them out of school. I urge members on the opposite side to disregard the misleading guidance of the Leader of the Opposition and support this crucial legislation."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.