Tuesday 13 January 2026 13:49 GMT Bookmark Labour’s first ‘Twitter tsar’ MP Kerry McCarthy says X ‘has become awful’ (PA) Despite the government’s criticism of X, many of Sir Keir’s senior ministers are still using the platform. Health secretary Wes Streeting, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and home secretary Shabana Mahmood have all posted since the start of the week, while the prime minister has avoided the platform since 8 January, and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has not posted since 2 January. But Downing Street would not say whether Sir Keir has consciously stopped posting on the social media site as a result of the row. Asked if the prime minister was purposefully boycotting the platform, his official spokesman said: “The prime minister uses a variety of different channels to speak to people across the UK and engage with the public. We will continue to do that, he will continue to do that. “His priority here is to focus on ensuring that this platform follows the law. “That is what we should be concentrating on, talking about criminal imagery of children as young as 11, reports of photos being shared of women in bikinis, tied up in gags with bruises and covered in blood. “That’s not acceptable and that is where the full focus of government is.” And asked whether the PM would encourage his Cabinet colleagues to avoid X, the spokesperson said it is “obviously for individuals to decide which channels they use”. “We've always been clear in general terms its important to communicate with the public where they are”, he added. On Monday, Sir Keir told MPs and peers: “The actions of Grok and X are absolutely disgusting and shameful. Protecting their abusive users, rather than the women and children who are being abused shows a total distortion of priorities. “So let me be crystal clear, we won’t stand for it, because no matter how unstable or complex the world becomes, this government will be guided by its values. We’ll stand up for the vulnerable against the powerful.” He set out his plans to the weekly meeting of the Labour Parliamentary Party after Ofcom launched an investigation into X after Grok was used to generate sexualised images of women and children. open image in gallery On Monday, the prime minister told MPs and peers: ‘The actions of Grok and X are absolutely disgusting and shameful’ (PA) The technology secretary Liz Kendall has also encouraged Ofcom to use “the full range of its powers” and potentially ban X in the UK. But such a move could spark a trade war with the US, with senior Trump administration figures, including vice-president JD Vance, accusing the UK of attacking free speech. Allies of Mr Musk in the UK have opposed banning Grok, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Ofcom, the UK regulator, said it was responding to “deeply concerning” reports about the images and will investigate whether X has complied with UK laws. In a statement, Ofcom said it will determine whether X “has complied with its duties to protect people in the UK from content that is illegal”. The decision to launch the formal investigation was made after Ofcom reviewed available evidence “as a matter of urgency”. It was launched under the Online Safety Act, which gives the regulator the power to fine X or ban it. Ms Kendall said the criminal offence would be brought into force this week under the Data (Use and Access) Act passed by parliament last year. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology said while the legal steps to introduce the offence were being made this week, it would not come into force until February. Nudification apps will also be criminalised as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently going through parliament, and it will become illegal for companies to supply tools to create non-consensual internet images. Ms Kendall told MPs on Monday that the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) “reports criminal imagery of children as young as 11, including girls sexualised and toddlers”. On Friday, X appeared to have changed Grok’s settings, with the chatbot telling users that only paid subscribers could ask it to manipulate images. However, reports suggested this only applied to those making requests in reply to other posts, and other ways of editing or creating images, including on a separate Grok website, remained open. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said banning X was the “wrong answer”. Speaking before the investigation was launched, she said: “I’m not even sure what question it is that they’re answering.” Mr Farage also expressed fears that the government will end up “suppressing free speech”. More about