Labour minister sorry over grooming gangs ‘canine whistle’ statement

Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell has sought to explain her remarks after she seemed to describe grooming gangs as a “dog whistle” factor, prompting a backlash from political fighters.

During a heated debate on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions on Friday, commentator and Reform UK member Tim Montgomerie requested Powell if she had observed a up to date Channel 4 documentary on grooming gangs.

Powell spoke back “oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now do we” and “let’s get that dog whistle out shall we”.

But on Saturday, the Labour minister stated she appeared kid exploitation and grooming with the “utmost seriousness”, including: “I’m sorry if this was unclear.”

Powell stated: “I was challenging the political point scoring around it, not the issue itself. As a constituency MP I’ve dealt with horrendous cases.”

During the political debate programme, Montgomerie used to be requested about Reform UK’s pledge to duplicate the Trump management’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) – together with via slicing variety and inclusions roles inside councils, following its successes in Thursday’s native elections.

Montgomerie stated the United Kingdom used to be “one of the most tolerant [countries] in the world”, however argued there “always needs to be more progress on racial issues”.

He stated: “It’s not so much the amount of money that is spent on employing diversity officers.

“You communicate to numerous civil servants, the period of time they now must spend tracking this factor [of diversity] above all others is an ordinary diversion.”

Powell referred to as his claims “completely garbage”, and told Montgomerie to go and spend a day with council staff to “in fact see what they are coping with”.

Montgomerie then asked Powell if she “noticed the documentary on Channel 4 about rape gangs”, to which she responded: “Oh, we wish to blow that little trumpet now will we. Let’s get that canine whistle out lets.”

Channel 4 launched Groomed: A National Scandal previous this week.

The documentary features five women who recount the abuse they suffered at the hands of grooming gangs, which it said revealed failures by police and social services.

It elicited reaction from several high-profile Conservative figures, including former home secretary Suella Braverman and former prime minister Liz Truss. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday there had already been an inquiry, the recommendations of which his government would implement. He told Parliament that Labour was “turning in fact and justice for sufferers”.

Labour peer Baroness Hazarika said she was “disgusted” by “sickening” stories of grooming gangs, adding: “Many folks within the Muslim neighborhood are completely as appalled as any individual else.”

Following Friday’s exchange on Any Questions, shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for Powell to resign over her remarks, which he said “belittles hundreds of ladies who have been raped via grooming gangs over a long time”.

Robert Jenrick, the shadow lord chancellor, said Powell’s comments were “a disgusting betrayal of the sufferers”.

A Reform UK spokesman said Powell’s “abhorrent feedback actually exhibit how out of contact the Labour Party is”.

He went on: “She does now not take the mass rape of younger women via predominantly Pakistani males critically. The masks has slipped.

“After these comments, Keir Starmer should consider if Lucy Powell is fit to serve.”

Powell stated the feedback have been made “in the heat of a discussion” and the federal government used to be “acting to get to the truth, and deliver justice”.

The BBC understands that Downing Street accepts Powell’s apology and her rationalization that her feedback didn’t replicate her perspectives at the factor.