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The announcement of a national, statutory inquiry into grooming gangs was a serious U-turn for the government on what’s become one of the most toxic debates in recent history. Political rows have repeatedly erupted around reports that gangs of predominantly British-Pakistani men groomed and sexually abused young white girls for years, while police, social workers and government downplayed concerns or blamed the victims themselves.
Though there have been a number of local inquiries over the years, things came to a head in January, thanks in part to Elon Musk attacking the Labour government over it. At the time, Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of “jumping on a far right bandwagon” in calling for another inquiry, despite not setting one up while they were in power.
But he did task Baroness Louise Casey with conducting a national review into the issue, and her report was published this week. It lays out the grim reality of how vulnerable girls and teenagers were let down by institutions for decades. And it sums up how neither those pushing the “Asian grooming gangs” narrative, nor those debunking it, have really had enough data to back up many of their claims.
William Tantam and Daniel Taggart worked on the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, so are familiar with the importance of listening to those affected by this crime without politicising it. Here, they explain what the report says about ethnicity, and how this new inquiry could finally put survivors before politics. Anne-Marie McAlinden is less optimistic, and argues that inquiries are rarely able to
deliver justice for victims.
Meanwhile, Starmer and his ministers spent much of this week trying to predict the impossible – Donald Trump’s next move. As the US president weighs up getting involved in Israel’s attacks on Iran, here’s how the UK could be dragged into the conflict as well.
Boys and girls are together facing an uncertain world. But research shows they are diverging when it comes to attitudes about masculinity, feminism and gender equality. Social media, politics and identity all play a role. What’s really going on?
Join us in Newcastle on July 3 for what promises to be a fascinating conversation on youth, masculinity and the political divide. My colleague Grace Allen, who has been covering this topic since long before Adolescence hit our screens, will be talking to experts and young people about what’s really going on with boys and girls. Get your tickets here.
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