ELON MUSK'S attacks against safeguarding minster Jess Phillips over grooming gangs were labelled a “disgraceful smear” today.

The tech billionaire owner of social media platform X, Tesla and Space X suggested Ms Philips “deserves to be in prison” and called her a “rape genocide apologist.”

His comments came after she denied requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham.

He also said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had failed to bring rape gangs to justice while director of public prosecutions.

Ms Phillips said in a letter to the local council that Oldham must follow other towns such as Rotherham and Telford and commission its own inquiry into historical abuse of children.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “It is a disgraceful smear of a great woman who has spent her life supporting victims of the kind of violence that Elon Musk and others say that they’re against.”

He said the best response from the government to Mr Musk was to focus on “tackling the problem, not talking about it."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also defended Ms Phillips, calling her a “fearless and formidable” advocate for sexual abuse victims who has “campaigned tirelessly” for justice for those let down by institutional failure.

Mr Musk and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage appeared to fall out today over support for jailed far-right thug Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

In a post on X, Mr Musk said: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”

Mr Farage, who had defended Mr Musk in an interview broadcast hours earlier, posted on X in response: “Well, this is a surprise! 

"Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree.

“My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”

Reform UK has called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs but Mr Farage has distanced himself from Robinson, saying he was “not what we need.”

Mr Streeting said the government was against launching another nationwide investigation because there has already been the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, which published its final report in 2022.