Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced sharp criticism on GB News today after claiming that discussions about grooming gangs were being influenced by “far-right” misinformation.
Dr Rakib Ehsan, speaking to GB News, strongly rejected the Prime Minister’s characterisation of the issue and claimed that Starmer “bandies” out the word “when he is uncomfortable.”
Speaking at a press conference, Starmer condemned those “spreading lies and misinformation” and accused Conservative MPs of “amplifying what the far-right is saying” on child sexual abuse.
Speaking to GB News, Dr Rakib Ehsan said: “It seems like whenever Keir Starmer is uncomfortable about anything this ‘far-right’ phrase is bandied out.
Dr Rakib Ehsan said that this is not a “far-right issue”
GB News
“I’m supportive of a statutory inquiry. I think that it’s very important that it determines accountability. I think there have been blatant institutional failures when it comes to various grooming gang cases across the country.
“I also think this is an opportunity for the victims to be heard, victims who’ve been denied protection and justice.
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“You would think that protecting the most vulnerable in society, vulnerable working class girls, this would be natural territory for the left. This is not a moral panic. This is not a far right cause.”
The comments come amid growing pressure for a national inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation cases.
There has been calls from both Conservative and Reform UK MPs for a second national inquiry into historical abuse cases.
Dr Ehsan added: “I think that the Prime Minister has been a bit reckless there. I think there’s actually an opportunity to have a proper statutory inquiry, which really understands the complex dynamics at play and determines accountability.
Starmer condemned those “spreading lies and misinformation” and accused Toryn MPs of “amplifying what the far-right is saying” on child sexual abuse
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“It’s clear as day that public officials, whether they’re politicians or people who are highly ranked in police forces, social workers, safeguarding teams, even teachers who turned a blind eye and they have to be held accountable.”
He added: “I think the real problem here is that we’ve had figures on the left who have flagged this problem decades ago.
“I think what I will say is that much of the response to that was scandalous.
“They were treated with contempt, even by fellow members of the left, so-called community leaders.
Dr Rakib Ehsan said that the victims were “treated with contempt”
GB News
“I think the big story here is that class was a very powerful dynamic here.
“I think that what we have is a classless, multicultural state, and many of these scandals are ultimately the product of a dangerous fusion of old and new, that traditional classes and being blended with modern sensitivities on race.”
The Prime Minister defended his record, stating: “I actually changed the system because I could see some of the things that were going wrong.
“Unlike some Tory politicians tweeting about it or talking about it, I got on with changing it.”
