Reeves refuses to apologise for ‘far-Right' grooming gang claims
Rachel Reeves has refused to apologise after Sir Keir Starmer dismissed demands for a national grooming gangs inquiry as 'far-Right'.
The Chancellor said that the priority for the Government was the victims of the abuse and 'not people's hurt feelings about how they've been spoken about'.
The Prime Minister announced on Saturday that he will commission a national inquiry, following months of pressure from his political opponents.
Baroness Casey, appointed by the Prime Minister to carry out a 'national audit' into the grooming gangs, is expected to make the recommendation as part of her findings next week.
In January 2025, Sir Keir said that those calling for a statutory inquiry were 'jumping on a bandwagon of the far-Right '.
In the same speech, he accused politicians and activists of 'spreading lies and misinformation' about grooming gangs.
Asked on Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips whether there would be an apology forthcoming next week, Ms Reeves said: 'The most important thing here is the victims, not people's hurt feelings about how they've been spoken about.
'The most important here is the victims of these evil crimes.'
The Government initially focused its efforts on implementing previous recommendations, allowing councils to launch local inquiries and having Lady Casey review the situation.
The scandal, which saw girls forced into sex by much older men, was first exposed in Rochdale, Lancashire, in 2011 and has been investigated in a variety of different forms.
It re-entered the spotlight earlier in 2025 when Elon Musk, the Tesla billionaire, started repeatedly criticising Sir Keir and demanding a nationwide inquiry.
On Friday, seven Asian men were convicted of sexually exploiting two white teenage schoolgirls in Rochdale.
On Saturday, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: 'Starmer has finally capitulated. Not because he wants to do the right thing but because he's been forced to.
'Starmer must now apologise for needlessly keeping victims waiting another six months and apologise for smearing and insulting campaigners'.
In May, Lucy Powell, the Commons leader, was forced to apologise after accusing a guest on a panel show of using a 'dog whistle' when he brought up grooming gangs.
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