Nigel Farage has launched a fierce critique of Sir Keir Starmer amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the national inquiry into grooming gangs in the UK. Farage accused the Labour leader of orchestrating a cover-up, suggesting that the Prime Minister is deliberately delaying or undermining a thorough investigation into the scandal until after the next general election. He branded the handling of the issue as emblematic of a "morally corrupt Labour government," emphasizing that the growing crisis should be the final straw for the current administration.
The allegation comes in the wake of a significant joint investigation by the Daily Express and MyLondon, which compelled the Metropolitan Police Service to admit they are now conducting numerous investigations into grooming gangs in London—contradicting previous claims by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Met that no such cases resembling those in Rochdale or Rotherham existed in the capital. Farage highlighted how, for decades, Labour-led local authorities and police forces concealed the sexual exploitation of thousands of young British girls, primarily at the hands of largely Pakistani Muslim men. He warned that it would be a "bigger scandal" if the government attempted to sacrifice justice again in order to protect its political standing.
The controversy intensified during a heated session at Prime Minister’s Questions, where Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of covering up the scale of the abuse and demanded the removal of safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. Badenoch cited the resignation of four women from the Home Office victims’ panel, who protested the government's apparent efforts to dilute the inquiry’s scope and minimize the racial and religious motivations behind the abuses. Fiona Goddard, one of the panel members who resigned, expressed dismay over government dismissals of survivors’ claims, underlining the survivors’ feelings of being disbelieved and contradicted by officials.
Starmer responded by promising that the inquiry would not be "watered down," assuring that its scope would remain comprehensive, including an examination of ethnicity and religion of offenders. He stated that the door remains open for the resigned panel members to return, emphasising a commitment to addressing their concerns. He defended safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, praising her extensive experience working on issues of violence against women and girls, alongside Louise Casey, who leads components of the inquiry.
However, Badenoch pressed further, suggesting the government was trying to downplay critical racial and religious factors, and questioned whether Phillips retained the Prime Minister’s confidence. The minister’s position remains contentious, with public calls for her resignation from victim advocates and opposition figures.
Adding to the turmoil, the inquiry has seen the withdrawal of a prospective chair, Annie Hudson, a senior social worker, alongside the departure of other survivors blaming a "toxic environment" created by officials. Baroness Louise Casey, who previously conducted a national audit that revealed widespread reluctance among organisations to address cultural factors in group-based child sexual exploitation, authored the independent report whose recommendations Starmer eventually accepted. This report prompted the government to launch the statutory inquiry after months of resistance.
Amid these developments, a veteran Scotland Yard detective, Bernadette Murray, has accused the Metropolitan Police of misleading the Mayor of London and the public about the extent of grooming gangs in the capital. She alleges systemic mismanagement within the Met, claiming that the force has routinely provided false information to Mayor Khan’s office—a charge that echoes criticisms of Khan’s previous public dismissals of the issue despite mounting evidence from investigations.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended Starmer’s approach, suggesting that the Prime Minister prioritised practical measures focused on victims rather than political posturing. Starmer himself has insisted that his government is committed to delivering truth and justice for survivors, asserting that they are more dedicated to this cause than the preceding Conservative administration.
The entire saga underscores the political and social tensions surrounding the grooming gangs scandal, reflecting a broader national reckoning with systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation. While the inquiry’s final form and leadership are still in flux, the pressure from victims, opposition politicians, and the public remains intense, with calls for transparency and accountability ringing louder than ever.
📌 Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1] (Express), [3] (AP News)
- Paragraph 2 – [1] (Express), [4] (GB News)
- Paragraph 3 – [1] (Express), [7] (Standard)
- Paragraph 4 – [1] (Express), [7] (Standard)
- Paragraph 5 – [1] (Express), [6] (Standard)
- Paragraph 6 – [1] (Express), [2] (GB News)
- Paragraph 7 – [5] (Standard), [7] (Standard)
Source: Noah Wire Services