Louise Casey criticises Tories for politicising her grooming gangs report

The Guardian

6 hours ago

Update:
Date: 2025-06-17T08:17:25.000Z
Title: Louise Casey
Content: Good morning. After the Home Office yesterday published 's audit of the grooming gang scandal, none of the political parties at Westminster seriously challenged any of her conclusions, or recommendations. But, of course, that does not mean there was consensus. As reported here yesterday, an almighty blame game commenced (or resumed, to be more accurate).
In an interview on Newsnight last night, Casey said she was 'disappointed' by the way her report was being politicised and criticised the Conservatives in particular.
Asked what she felt about the 'politicisation' of her report, Casey replied:
I'm disappointed by it, to put it mildly.
I really hoped – and hope still – that the report is so clear, it's so straightforward. We need to change some laws. We need to do a national criminal investigation. We need to get on with the national inquiry with local footprint in it. And ideally, wouldn't it be great if everybody came behind that and just backed it and got on with it?
Asked what she felt about the proceedings in the Commons yesterday, Casey said:
I just felt, dare I say it, I felt the opposition could have just been a bit, 'Yes, we will all come together behind you.' Maybe there's still time to do that. I think it's just so important that they do.
It almost doesn't matter right now, does it, what political party people are part of. We've identified there's a problem, it's been a problem there a long time, and it's about time we drew a line in the sand.
There does not seem much chance that Kemi Badenoch will take any notice. She has scheduled a press conference today and, judging by her X feed last night, she intends to celebrate what she perceives as a victory for her campaigning. The 10 most recent posts on her feed are either tweets or retweets about the grooming gang scandal. This is the one she has pinned.
This national inquiry is a hard-won victory for the brave survivors who refused to be silenced — who gave up their anonymity to expose the institutions that failed them.
Labour fought it every step of the way. They voted against it. Mocked campaigners. Smeared them. Branded it a 'far-right bandwagon' and a 'dog whistle.'
Now they're pretending they supported it all along? Disgraceful. Their hand was forced.
Our job now is to make sure this inquiry delivers justice for every survivor. No more delays.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister, chairs cabinet. Keir Starmer is still in Canada at the G7 summit.
10.30am: , the crossbench peer and former civil servant, gives evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about her grooming gangs report published yesterday.
11am: Kemi Badenoch holds a press conference.
Noon: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
1pm: John Swinney, Scotland's first minister, gives a speech on independence at the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, is speaking at 2.10pm.
Early afternoon (UK time): Starmer takes questions from British print journalists and broadcasters at the G7 summit.
Late afternoon: MPs debate amendments to the crime and policing bill relating to abortion. They will vote at 7pm.
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