Polling reveals widespread public disapproval of Elon Musk's recent interventions in UK politics, particularly regarding the grooming gangs scandal. A new survey by Opinium found that just 12 percent of Britons believe Musk's actions have a positive impact, while 53 percent perceive a negative effect. The sentiment extends to Musk's comments on the grooming gangs issue, with 47 percent deeming them unhelpful.
Musk's social media platform, X, has been a vehicle for numerous attacks on Labour leader Keir Starmer and the Labour government. These attacks, often characterized as baseless, have been amplified to his vast 210 million followers. The Conservative Party and Nigel Farage's Reform UK have surprisingly sided with Musk's calls for a national inquiry, despite Downing Street's preference for locally-led investigations.
Furthermore, the public's negative view of Musk's involvement extends beyond specific issues. A substantial majority (71 percent) of Reform UK voters believe Nigel Farage remains the best leader, even after Musk publicly criticized him and effectively ended any hopes for a significant financial contribution.
Despite widespread opposition, the public remains divided on the necessity of a national grooming gangs inquiry. While 36 percent support a national probe, 28 percent favor local investigations, prioritizing the implementation of the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse report's recommendations.
The poll also reveals discontent with both the Labour and Conservative governments' handling of the grooming gangs issue. Public approval ratings for both are significantly negative. Leading expert Alexis Jay, who chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, has criticized the politicization of the issue, emphasizing the need for full implementation of the inquiry's reforms. This further underscores the public's perception of Musk's interference as detrimental to UK political discourse.
