John Swinney has blasted billionaire Elon Musk for “reprehensible” comments on the Labour Government and child sexual exploitation. The First Minister joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer in hitting out at the X owner for his latest controversial outburst about UK politics.
Musk, an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has caused fury over a series of inflammatory statements on the grooming gangs scandal.
He claimed Home Office Minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison” for denying requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham. He branded her a “rape genocide apologist” and claimed the Prime Minister was “complicit in the crimes” of child sex offenders.
Speaking to the press, Swinney said he agreed with Starmer’s criticism of Musk: “Certainly what I heard and saw being said about Jess Phillips was completely and utterly reprehensible, so I am very happy to associate myself with that criticism.”
He said the answer to people like Musk was to deliver on people’s priorities: “Those solutions are not always straightforward. They are certainly not as glib as populists like Elon Musk would suggest they are. And what we have got to do is to work hard, bring people together in a sense of unified purpose, to make sure we improve the lives of people in Scotland as a consequence of our actions.”
He said Holyrood approving the SNP Government’s draft Budget would help address the root causes of populism.
“The first step of doing that in Scotland in 2025 will be about the passing of the Budget. If the Budget doesn’t pass, then I think we are playing right into the hands of Elon Musk… because the political system is demonstrating that it can’t address people’s day to day concerns.”
Swinney leads a minority SNP Government and needs a deal with opposition MSPs for the plans to pass. A vote will take place next month.
Swinney also said he would back a review into tightening the rules on stopping foreign money from influencing elections in Scotland and the wider UK. Musk backed Reform UK until falling out with party leader Nigel Farage this week over the billionaire’s support for far right thug Tommy Robinson.
He also described former SNP leader Humza Yousaf a racist “scumbag” who “loathes” white people. Yousaf had called Musk a “dangerous race baiter” and “one of the most dangerous men on the planet”.
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