Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, faced backlash for her comments likening discussions about grooming gangs to 'dog whistle' politics. After an outcry, she apologized, emphasizing her seriousness regarding child exploitation issues. The backlash included calls for her resignation from Conservative figures. Powell's colleague, Wes Streeting, defended her, suggesting the incident was a mistake to move past. Critics highlighted the serious nature of grooming gang crimes, urging for a national inquiry, particularly after the airing of a documentary about the issue.
In the heat of a discussion, I would like to clarify that I regard issues of child exploitation and grooming with the utmost seriousness. I'm sorry if this was unclear.
This shocking outburst from a Labour cabinet minister belittles the thousands of girls and women who were raped by grooming gangs over decades.
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