Right-wing accounts on X prompted Elon Musk to find interest in grooming gangs scandal, Sky News analysis finds
The grooming gangs scandal has been in the public eye for more than a decade, with multiple public enquiries and a string of prosecutions.
All of that went apparently unnoticed by the world’s richest man, until a few days ago.
Sky News analysis suggests just a handful of right-wing accounts on X prompted and developed Elon Musk’s interest in the topic, which has ignited debate online and offline.
This shows the volume of discussion on the subject on X before – and after – Musk’s involvement, looking at the keywords of grooming gangs and rape gangs.
“Discussion about grooming gangs is always a background drumbeat and a key rallying cry for far-right networks,” a spokesperson for the Institute of Strategic Dialogue (ISD) told Sky News.
Musk’s involvement lit a rocket under the topic, though: there have been at least 40 million engagements since he took interest, according to Talkwalker, a social media monitoring tool.
Condemnation of rape and grooming gangs isn’t far-right in itself: the entire British public shares exactly the same position. But there’s evidence that Musk’s introduction to the topic is a result of right-wing and far-right accounts on X.
This is Musk’s first post on the subject – on New Year’s Eve. He’s replying to an account he follows – and there are less than 1,000 of those – which focuses on immigration and crime statistics.
Sky News has analysed more than 2,000 of Musk’s posts over this recent period to understand which are the most influential accounts, in terms of who he replies to and who he reposts.
Right-wing commentators and news aggregators are prominent, as is far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson.
Tommy Robinson. File Pic: PA
Peter Sweden, the account Musk has interacted with the most, has previously apologised for posts denying the holocaust. Ian Miles Cheong, a commentator based in Malaysia, and Visegrad 24, set up by South-African Polish advertiser Stefan Tompson, are influential right-wing news accounts with millions of followers between them.
“There’s a significant concern over the vast spread and normalisation of far-right talking points that until now have remained fairly fringe,” the ISD spokesperson told Sky News.
More on this story:
Grooming gangs scandal timeline: What happened
Victims of grooming gangs can have inquiry if they want one, Jess Phillips says
Nigel Farage (R) and Musk. File Pic: PA
And it’s taking up a lot of Musk’s time and efforts. For a man with many interests, from space rockets to population birth rates, our research found that around a third of his recent output on X has been largely focused on grooming gangs.
That has involved interactions with specific British politicians, notably his targeting of the government’s safeguarding minister Jess Phillips.
Jess Phillips. File Pic: AP
But it even includes Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, whom Musk called a “cretin”.
Most interacted with by Musk, though, and also on that list above, is Rupert Lowe, the Reform UK MP.
Musk replied to him again today.
After saying that Reform’s leader Nigel Farage didn’t “have what it takes”, Musk seems to think Lowe does.
The first known victim of serial paedophile Richard Burrows has told Sky News he regrets not reporting his assault at the time to save others from “falling into the same trap”.
Burrows, 81, will learn his sentence at Chester Crown Court today after being convicted last month of dozens of sexual offences against young boys.
The judge told him it is “inevitable” he might never be released.
The former scout master had spent 27 years on the run, living in what he called “paradise” in Thailand, after stealing the identity of a friend and fleeing the UK when he was due in court in 1997.
A police photo of Burrows from the 1990s. Pic: Cheshire Police
He was arrested when he arrived at Heathrow in March last year.
The trial heard that Burrows had obtained positions of authority and systematically abused boys from the 1960s to the mid-1990s.
He had worked as a housemaster at a school for troubled boys and befriended other youngsters through amateur radio clubs.
One of those was his first victim, aged 14 at the time in the late 1960s, and now 71.
He told Sky News: “It’s been an awfully long time and after 57 years I’ve got to see the results at the end of it.
“It does actually feel like a weight’s been lifted. You hear that expression all through life, but it’s the first time ever really felt it.”
He described Burrows as a “devious, nasty creature”.
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The man, who cannot be identified as he is the victim of a sexual offence, attended Burrows’s trial and delivered a victim impact statement at his sentencing.
He said he wanted to do this because of the regret he carries to this day.
“I wish I’d said something when it happened because I feel that, in retrospect, if I would have said something, then maybe it would have stopped other people from falling into the same trap that I did,” he added.
“But at that time, at that age, I thought I probably wouldn’t have been believed, and I felt too ashamed and embarrassed and even guilty to even mention it to anybody else. So, I didn’t, and I regret not doing that.”
Photos of Burrows in Thailand. Pic: Cheshire Police
The man contacted police after seeing an appeal for help in finding the fugitive Burrows on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme in 2011. It would be another decade before he was arrested.
He said: “I really begrudge him those 27 years. It’s 27 years and he’s just left a trail of wreckage behind him while he’s enjoying himself.
“It’s a shame he’s not got another 27 years to look forward to in jail.”
Although he was the earliest victim on the indictment at Burrows’s trial, like detectives from Cheshire Police, he believes there could be other victims who have not come forward.
He said: “Personally, I don’t think I was the first victim. I think that he was probably fairly well practiced in the art of what he was doing prior to my meeting him.”
Burrows being met by police at Heathrow. Pic: Cheshire Police
Burrows was initially charged in May 1997 but failed to attend a hearing later that year.
He remained on the wanted list until police using facial recognition software matched him to a man using the name Peter Smith. He had stolen the identity of a terminally ill friend to obtain a passport.
After his conviction in March, judge Steven Everett told Burrows he had caused “untold distress and trauma to the victims and their families”.
The UK has joined US forces in attacking a Houthi target in Yemen for the first time since Donald Trump was re-elected.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the strikes took place on Tuesday as part of the government’s response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The ministry said careful intelligence analysis identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture the sort of drones used to attack ships, located 15 miles south of the capital Sanaa.
RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on several buildings using Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.
The planes had air refuelling support from Voyager tankers.
The ministry said the strike was conducted after dark to reduce the likelihood of civilians being in the area.
All the aircraft returned safely.
John Healey. Pic: Reuters
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security.
“Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base.
“We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping.”
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Houthis a ‘persistent threat’ to ‘freedom of navigation’
Mr Healey said Houthi activities in the Red Sea are a “persistent threat” to “freedom of navigation”.
“A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK,” he said.
“The government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the service men and women involved in this operation.”
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US intensifies strikes on Houthis
It was the first time UK forces have struck a target in Yemen since May last year, the ministry confirmed.
The US has intensified its strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis under Mr Trump’s presidency, after his re-election in November 2024.
The group began launching attacks on shipping routes in November 2023 saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
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Footage showing people being pulled from rubble has been released by Houthi rebels in Yemen
The strike came after a Houthi-controlled TV channel claimed a US strike killed 68 people at a detention centre for African migrants in Yemen on Monday.
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