A vast majority of Britons disagree with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s insinuations that those calling for a national inquiry into predominantly Muslim, Pakistani-heritage grooming gangs are “racist and jumping on the bandwagon to cause division.” Only 18 percent of Britons polled by Friderichs Advisory Partners and J.L. Partners agree with these sentiments. In comparison, 64 percent believe “Those calling for a national inquiry are motivated by getting justice for the victims.”
These findings change little when only supporters of Starmer’s Labour Party are concerned, with 60 percent saying the calls are motivated by a desire for justice against only 24 percent who believe they are motivated by racism.
The public’s view on the grooming gangs scandal generally is clear: 46 percent believe it was the result of a cover-up, with only 14 percent holding a different opinion. This perception isn’t confined to any particular demographic; even Labour and “BAME” (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) voters predominantly see it as a result of a cover-up.
Sarah Champion, a Labour Member of Parliament (MP), has estimated up to a million girls may have been abused by the gangs nationwide. In her constituency (electoral district), the grooming gang hotspot of Rotherham, up to one in 73 Muslim men have been charged with offenses.
YEARS OF INACTION.
Reports of abuse date back to at least the 1980s, with police, social services, and other public authorities failing time and again to take action. Fears of being accused of racism drove much of the inaction, with police officers giving evidence to local authorities reporting they were instructed to try to “get other ethnicities.” Some police forces suppressed reports on the situation because “the predominant offender profile of Pakistani Muslim males… combined with the predominant victim profile of white females has the potential to cause significant community tensions.”
In at least one case, police and prosecutors failed to act against a groomer rapist but took his underage victim to court when he falsely accused her of racially abusing him.
Among those who believe grooming gangs were covered up, 42 percent attribute this to corruption, and 38 percent blame political correctness.
Labour is resisting calls for a national inquiry into the scandal but is beginning to offer limited concessions as public pressure led by the likes of Nigel Farage and Elon Musk persists.
