Trump and Musk Target Starmer Over Energy Policy and Grooming Claims

The incoming US president and tech billionaire criticize Labour's North Sea energy tax and handling of grooming gang prosecutions, complicating Starmer’s domestic and diplomatic agenda.

Donald Trump criticized the UK’s increased windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers, calling it a 'very big mistake' and urging Britain to 'open up the North Sea' and 'get rid of windmills.'
Elon Musk accused Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute grooming gangs during his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service, a claim Starmer has firmly denied.
Musk is reportedly considering a significant donation to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party while also supporting controversial figures like Tommy Robinson, creating challenges for Farage's political positioning.
Labour’s energy policy aims to decarbonize the UK’s power system by 2030, with plans to quadruple offshore wind capacity, but Trump and Musk's criticisms highlight tensions over the economic and environmental implications.
Starmer and Lord Mandelson are working to secure exemptions from Trump’s proposed US import tariffs, which could severely impact the UK economy, while Labour seeks to refocus on domestic priorities like the NHS and cost-of-living issues.