Farage criticises Labour on grooming gangs amid Metropolitan Police review
Nigel Farage has condemned the Labour Party for allegedly failing to address the ongoing issue of grooming gangs, asserting that abuse continues in London, just miles from where he made his remarks, reports BritPanorama.
The leader of Reform UK described the situation as a “stain on Britain” and one of the “worst things that has ever happened.” He expressed frustration that Labour’s inquiry into grooming gangs is “dead in the water,” accusing the establishment of “abject cowardice and willful and deliberate neglect.”
Farage asserted that there is “strong evidence” indicating the grooming crisis persists, suggesting that politicians, police, and councils are reluctant to address the issue for fear of being labelled racist. His statements coincided with the Metropolitan Police’s announcement that they would review 9,000 child sexual exploitation cases dating back 15 years.
This review was initiated amid increasing scrutiny of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has been accused of avoiding questions regarding grooming gangs in the capital. When asked whether Khan has failed grooming gang victims, Farage answered affirmatively, highlighting a pervasive denial about the existence of these issues in London.
Farage claimed that social services personnel have confirmed the presence of grooming gangs in London, noting the complexity of identifying such groups in a metropolis compared to smaller towns like Rotherham. He implied that London might represent the last major grooming gang scandal still to be fully uncovered.
During a press conference, Farage announced plans to request the establishment of a cross-party parliamentary inquiry under the authority of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Home Affairs Chair Dame Karen Bradley, aimed at summoning witnesses to testify under oath.
He stressed the urgency of this inquiry, indicating it would be conducted transparently and efficiently, likely concluding within weeks or a couple of months. He anticipated that the inquiry would reveal potential collusion in a cover-up of a significant scandal in British history.
Joining Farage at the event was Ellie-Ann Reynolds, a survivor who resigned from the government’s victims’ panel. She vocally condemned the current inquiry as being “rigged from the start,” asserting that she was directed on what questions to ask and criticized the pre-drafted terms of reference which she did not trust. Reynolds expressed a complete loss of faith in the inquiry, suggesting that it lacked any genuine intention to uncover the truth.
This ongoing discussion highlights the critical nature of accountability and transparency in addressing historical and ongoing issues of abuse within communities, emphasizing the need for decisive action from political and law enforcement leaders to protect vulnerable individuals.
