| Topic: | Reply | |
| Posted by: | Sue Hammond | |
| Date/Time: | 05/05/25 21:38:00 |
| Powell should have been sacked. Her crass, dismissive comments demonstrated a total disregard for the victims and the sexual and physical abuse that they suffered from those vile Pakistani rapists. However, instead of being sacked she has been given full backing from No.10. Although Starmer has not made any statement about the issue himself he must have sanctioned the response from his office. #StaySchtumStarmer could have prosecuted Pakistani rape gangs in Rochdale as far back as 2008/9 when he was head of the CPS but decided not to on the basis that it viewed the main victim as "unreliable" ... Reform said Keir Starmer should consider whether Powell was still fit to serve in her job. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, went further by calling on Powell to resign. “This shocking outburst from a Labour cabinet minister belittles the thousands of girls and women who were raped by grooming gangs over decades,” he said. “We have consistently called for a national inquiry in parliament, which has been blocked by Labour ministers who don’t seem to know or care about the disgusting crimes which have been perpetrated. “Anyone who has seen the shocking Channel 4 documentary will know that it is clearer than ever that this is not a ‘dog whistle’. To dismiss thousands of victims who were raped and the cover-up that followed is sickening. She should resign.” https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/04/no-10-backs-lucy-powell-after-her-apology-for-grooming-gangs-remark?CMP=share_btn_url |