The British government has announced a national inquiry into organized child sexual abuse, responding to pressure from opposition politicians and notable figures such as Elon Musk. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he would take the recommendation of an independent reviewer and initiate a judge-led inquiry with the authority to summon witnesses.
Starmer emphasized the need to re-evaluate the issue concerning so-called "grooming gangs" of men who exploit young and vulnerable women. High-profile cases have highlighted perpetrators of predominantly Pakistani heritage, prompting a discourse among right-leaning politicians including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and sparking criticism from Musk, who condemned Starmer on his X platform.
Musk's criticisms stemmed from Starmer's previous hesitance to endorse a national inquiry following requests from the local authority in Oldham, northern England. Historically, police investigations revealed that girls under 18 were sexually exploited by groups of men in the 2000s and 2010s. Musk went further to allege that Starmer, during his tenure as England's chief prosecutor from 2008 to 2013, did not sufficiently bring these offenders to justice, a claim that Starmer vehemently refuted.
The intertwining of child sexual abuse cases with immigration issues has been contentious, particularly because most victims in Oldham and similar towns were white girls targeted by predominantly Pakistani men. This reality has led to accusations against politicians of attempting to cover up such crimes to avoid accusations of racism. A 2022 report investigating the failures of local agencies in Oldham during 2011-2014 concluded that while the children were let down by authorities, there was no actual cover-up, despite concerns that the far-right might leverage high-profile convictions of predominantly Pakistani offenders.
Earlier in January, the government announced its support for several local inquiries into cases of child exploitation in various cities where men were prosecuted. Previously, officials stated that further investigations were unnecessary due to a series of earlier inquiries, both local and national, that had already taken place.
A comprehensive inquiry lasting seven years was conducted under the prior Conservative government. However, many of the 20 recommendations put forth in this investigation, including suggestions for compensating victims of abuse, have yet to see implementation. Starmer's government subsequently tasked Louise Casey, a recognized expert in victim rights and social welfare, with reviewing earlier findings. Though her review has been submitted, it has not yet been made public.
As Starmer traveled to Canada for a G7 summit, he reiterated, “I have never said we should not look again at any issue. I have wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. That’s why I asked Louise Casey, who I hugely respect, to do an audit.” He explained that Casey initially believed there was no need for a national inquiry beyond existing investigations, but upon reviewing the material, she changed her stance and endorsed the necessity for such an inquiry.
Starmer remarked that he has thoroughly reviewed Casey's report and will accept her recommendations for a national inquiry. The main opposition party, the Conservative Party, quickly responded, stating, “Those in authority deliberately covered up the systematic rape of thousands of girls as young as 10 because the perpetrators were mainly of Pakistani origin. They thought race relations were more important than protecting young girls.” The Conservative law and order spokesman, Chris Philp, called for accountability for those in positions of authority responsible for any cover-up.
