Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has mentioned grooming gang perpetrators are “peasants” from “sub-communities” in different international locations.
She has now met survivors after revealing final week she had not met any whereas calling for a brand new nationwide inquiry into the scandal that noticed 1000’s of primarily white ladies being abused by males of primarily Pakistani origin.
Ms Badenoch mentioned she was shocked by their tales and an inquiry wants to take a look at “cultural issues”.
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“You know, people [who are] very, very poor, sort of peasant background, very, very rural, almost cut off from even the home origin countries that they might have been in.
“They are not essentially first technology. The roles that they had been doing… allowed them to exhibit this predatory behaviour.”
She also said there is another issue of the “tradition of silence, the tradition of ‘laptop says no’, the tradition of ‘transfer alongside, nothing to see right here’, the tradition of ‘this isn’t our drawback’, which is on the facet of the state”.
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Grooming gangs: What occurred?
The Tory chief mentioned a nationwide inquiry wants to take a look at each “cultural issues” on the identical time.
She has repeatedly clashed with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as she requires a brand new nationwide inquiry.
The federal government has mentioned one other nationwide inquiry just isn’t wanted after a seven-year inquiry was revealed in 2022 by Professor Alexis Jay.
It has mentioned the main target ought to as an alternative be on implementing the 20 suggestions made by Professor Jay, and is in favour of locally-led inquiries.
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Ms Badenoch is looking for a brand new nationwide inquiry. Pic: PA
Tech billionaire Elon Musk introduced the difficulty to worldwide consideration as he attacked Sir Keir for his involvement in prosecuting grooming gangs whereas he was chief prosecutor from 2008-2013. The prime minister has pushed again in opposition to Mr Musk’s claims.
Ms Badenoch mentioned a nationwide inquiry would shine a light-weight on the reality and maintain individuals to account.
“This is about those victims who deserve justice,” she mentioned.
“The survivors who deserve justice by making sure that every single perpetrator we can find is caught and brought to justice, and those who failed in their duty to protect their children are held to account and exposed.”
Her feedback got here because the Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion referred to as for a nationwide inquiry into grooming gangs, however led regionally.
