Georgia Pearce
Guest Reporter
The chair of the Women's Policy Centre has launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer, accusing the Labour leader of being "completely out of touch with the public" over his stance on grooming gangs.
Paola Diana told GB News she was "furious" with Labour's opposition to a national inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs.
"It's not the far right who wants a public national inquiry on this incredible scandal, it's the British people. We need to listen to the British people," she said.
Diana accused policymakers of sacrificing women's rights "in the name of indiscriminate multiculturalism and misogyny".
A new YouGov poll has revealed that more than three-quarters of Britons support calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The survey, commissioned by the Women's Policy Centre, found 76 per cent of 2,533 adults back demands for a national investigation into the sexual abuse of children by grooming gangs.
Criticising the Labour Government's decision to vote against an amendment in Parliament, Diana told GB News: "This is an appalling scandal.
"We are furious. As a mother, as an advocate for women's rights, I'm furious. And I tell you, a lot of people out there are furious."
Diana detailed the horrific fates of several victims in her impassioned statement to GB News, and how more needs to be done to protect grooming gang victims.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"Can we name these girls, because we forget their names - Lucy Lowe, she was burned with all her family. Charlene Downes, she might have become kebab meat for what we know, and the perpetrators are still around. They were not convicted because there's not enough evidence, because there is no body.
"Victoria Agoglia, she was 15-years-old when she died from an heroin injection. Becky Watson, she was 13. Vicky Round, she was 20, injected with heroin and cocaine and crack just at the age of 12 for eight years.
"Laura Wilson, she was 17-years-old and she was tortured since she was 12."
Criticising the police forces, Diana claimed that the lack of criminal prosecutions for those involved in the grooming gangs suggests there is "systemic misogyny" in the police force.
Diana concluded: "This is an appalling scandal. It shows misogyny, systemic misogyny, particularly also within the police forces.
"What were these policemen doing when finding these naked girls with middle aged Pakistani men in a room, why they didn't arrest these men? Why aren't these men are rotting in jail?"
Labour has defended its position against calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, pointing to its support for local investigations.
A Labour spokesperson said the party "will welcome and support an independent investigation commissioned by Oldham Council which puts victims' voices at its heart".
Find Out More...
Paola Diana told GB News she was "furious" with Labour's opposition to a national inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs.
"It's not the far right who wants a public national inquiry on this incredible scandal, it's the British people. We need to listen to the British people," she said.
Diana accused policymakers of sacrificing women's rights "in the name of indiscriminate multiculturalism and misogyny".
A new YouGov poll has revealed that more than three-quarters of Britons support calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The survey, commissioned by the Women's Policy Centre, found 76 per cent of 2,533 adults back demands for a national investigation into the sexual abuse of children by grooming gangs.
Criticising the Labour Government's decision to vote against an amendment in Parliament, Diana told GB News: "This is an appalling scandal.
"We are furious. As a mother, as an advocate for women's rights, I'm furious. And I tell you, a lot of people out there are furious."
Diana detailed the horrific fates of several victims in her impassioned statement to GB News, and how more needs to be done to protect grooming gang victims.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- More than 50 towns could have rape gang victims, says campaigning Tory MP Robbie Moore
- Starmer accused of 'sacrificing women's rights' as 76% back national inquiry into rape gangs
- Nigel Farage predicts Keir Starmer U-turn on grooming gangs inquiry as he makes Reform UK pledge
"Can we name these girls, because we forget their names - Lucy Lowe, she was burned with all her family. Charlene Downes, she might have become kebab meat for what we know, and the perpetrators are still around. They were not convicted because there's not enough evidence, because there is no body.
"Victoria Agoglia, she was 15-years-old when she died from an heroin injection. Becky Watson, she was 13. Vicky Round, she was 20, injected with heroin and cocaine and crack just at the age of 12 for eight years.
"Laura Wilson, she was 17-years-old and she was tortured since she was 12."
Criticising the police forces, Diana claimed that the lack of criminal prosecutions for those involved in the grooming gangs suggests there is "systemic misogyny" in the police force.
Diana concluded: "This is an appalling scandal. It shows misogyny, systemic misogyny, particularly also within the police forces.
"What were these policemen doing when finding these naked girls with middle aged Pakistani men in a room, why they didn't arrest these men? Why aren't these men are rotting in jail?"
Labour has defended its position against calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, pointing to its support for local investigations.
A Labour spokesperson said the party "will welcome and support an independent investigation commissioned by Oldham Council which puts victims' voices at its heart".
Find Out More...