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The same Sir Keir Starmer who five months ago said anyone calling for an enquiry was “far right”.
The same Labour Party which voted against establishing an enquiry on 8th January.
Only last month when the subject was raised, Leader of the House Lucy Powell snapped “oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now do we” and “let’s get that dog whistle out shall we”. Does she think Baroness Casey is blowing a dog whistle?
Or Jess Phillips, minister with responsibility for safeguarding children who has consistently opposed the creation of an enquiry. Will she be tendering her resignation?
And let’s not forget this charmer:
“Still better than the bloody Tories, though.”
That is damning him with faint praise. It isn’t accurate either. In some ways he is even worse.
I can only assume Baroness Casey’s report is so explosive that even Starmer has been spooked by it. However, I am still dubious about what will happen.
Who will chair the enquiry? What will be its terms of reference? How long will it take to report?
Will it really be given a free hand to examine everything about this scandal? If it is, I believe it will expose a political class, police and public services which are so criminal and corrupt they have surrendered any moral right to govern, police or to serve us.
This scandal and the stench of corruption goes right to the top of British public life. It is time the Augean Stables are well and cleared out. But will the people who are so seriously compromised allow it to happen? Somehow I doubt it. Their gravy train must not be derailed.
Now if only I could remember the name of the Director of Public Prosecutions when so much of this scandal was taking place…
I’m not an apologist for Starmer, who’s proven to be most disappointing thus far, but I’ve no problem with politicians changing their minds; in fact I wish more would feel able to instead of rigidly clinging to what they’ve said and done in the past.
Apparently Casey, prior to compiling her report, was of the opinion that a national inquiry into this sordid matter wasn’t necessary; that she’s changed her mind surely means much smelly stuff is about to hit the fan.
While the ‘optics’ of Starmer’s volte-face are not appealing, at least he’s done so on the recommendation of someone possessed of the intellectual rigour so lacking in the current mediocre-at-best crop of politicians.
I do rather agree Corker that if this report does uncover corruption and cover-ups at the highest levels then ‘the establishment’ will endeavour to cover its back.
Muck out and disinfect the Augean Stables indeed: what a stink
Brian Langstaff – the chaiman of the infected blood inquiry – who delivered such a withering report, would seem the ideal type to chair this latest investigation, or perhaps Louise Casey herself, who has an ideal CV:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Casey,_Baroness_Casey_of_Blackstock
Oh come on. Jess Phillips is one of the most hard working MP’s and works tirelessly on womens issues. To call for her resignation is just plain spiteful, especially after what she was subjected to on election night. As for the enquiry, what’s wrong with holding one in light of further evidence? Criticise the government by all means; Labour Party members are far more likely to criticise their party than Conservatives when it comes to criticising their own party, and we do, but choose carefully what you criticise otherwise it just gets repetitive and loses any credibility.
It is not the fact that Starmer has U turned that is the issue. It is the fact he previously labelled anyone calling for an inquiry as “far right”, a cheap and nasty slur not just to those people but also to the victims of this scandal. It was a slur repeated by several other government ministers, most horribly by Lucy Powell.
As for Jess Phillips, her pathetic whataboutery replies in this exchange say a lot about her. Throughout the debate, she huffed, tutted, rolled her eyes and showed visible irritation that the subject had been raised.
https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/jess-phillips/vs/katie-lam
It prompted Brendan O’Neill to write:
“Phillips’s irritability suggests some government ministers have come to see the ‘grooming gang’ issue as little more than a gotcha, a cudgel wielded by ‘bad people’ on the right against ‘good people’ on the left. They’re so vain they think this scandal is about them. If the government cannot see how awful these optics are, how infuriating the sight of huffing ministers will be to the vast majority of Brits, then it must be even more lost than I thought.
Finally Phillips responded to Lam. ‘I think it’s a shame that [Lam] only referred to one sort of child-abuse victim’, she said. Because when it comes to this vile crime, there ‘should be no hierarchy’ of victims.
What incalculable gall. Jess, that is precisely the point Lam and others are making: that white working-class girls were not only savagely abused by gangs of men but also ruthlessly demoted down the ‘hierarchy of victimhood’ by a political class that cares virtually nothing for them.
Don’t huff – it’s the truth.”
Fact: Jess Phillips only narrowly held a once safe Labour seat by 693 votes at the last General Election from a candidate who had clearly mobilised the Muslim vote against her. It is not difficult to see why she was so desperate to stop an inquiry from happening.
I have rather more sympathy for the victims of the rape gangs than I have for Ms Phillips.
I believe Mr Galloway is right on some issues, wrong on others.
Not quite sure what that has to do with the subject in hand.
Anger is wasted on the mealy-mouthed effluvium of politicians Corker. I find the raising of eyebrows whilst blowing a loud raspberry quite sufficient
Yvette Cooper is to make a statement on the Casey Report in the Commons – this afternoon I believe – which will be worth watching. Much shoelace staring and uneasy body language on the front benches to be expected
“I believe Mr Galloway is right on some issues, wrong on others.”
Isn’t everyone? 🤔
No matter how much some people delude themselves, nobody is right all the time.
I don’t recall so much vitriol being aimed at the previous government and I don’t believe that all politicians are as bad as each other. Yvette Coopers daughters said they feared for their mother. Anna Soubry said that when she waited for trains she always stood at the back of the platform for fear of being pushed by someone. Jess Phillips house is like Fort Knox. I don’t know why some of these politicians bother to continue when so many people seem to hold them with such disdain. You can stick this thread to be honest because it leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. Oh and just a reminder by the way that this is the anniversary of Jo Cox’s death.
If it’s any consolation I thought Cooper’s statement in the Commons was as good and dignified as it could have been under the circumstances and Badenoch’s reply truly vile (no surprise there then).
Equating those of us on here who’ve been rude about politicians with those who’ve threatened or actually harmed them is uncalled for and blatantly absurd.
Sticks and stones etc.
“I don’t know why some of these politicians bother to continue when so many people seem to hold them with such disdain.”
Why do they deserve any respect when they tried to cover up the industrial scale abuse of CHILDREN for years?
Agree Drone. I think the petulant anger of those who have lost the argument is rather misplaced.
I only wish they could show similar anger on behalf of the THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN who have been brutally mistreated and raped. And could get angry about a rancid, corrupt, rotten political class, police and public services who KNEW IT WAS HAPPENING but who chose to ignore it, either through cowardice or because it did not suit them to raise the matter.
There are plenty of activists who bullied and harassed anyone who did try to raise the subject. Ann Cryer, a Labour MP, was smeared as a racist. Sarah Champion was forced out of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet for daring to raise the matter.
Yesterday was a day of shame for the British state. I hope this inquiry begins the process of bringing everyone involved in this sordid scandal to justice but somehow I doubt it will.
The sight of these politicians now pretending to care was nauseating in the extreme. I was put in mind of the words spoken to a previous Parliament:
Forced out of Corbyn’s shadow cabinet by left wingers who wanted to suppress the truth. But remember – they think they are the nice, moral people.
“No matter how much some people delude themselves, nobody is right all the time.”
Agree but I had to address an irrelevant point.
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