Labour's Jess Phillips has launched a stinging critique in the House of Commons, asserting that a pervasive culture of 'grooming gang denial' is fundamentally obstructing the protection of the UK's most vulnerable children. The MP for Birmingham Yardley accused the government and wider society of refusing to confront the uncomfortable truths about the perpetrators of organised child sexual exploitation.
During a passionate debate on the Criminal Justice Bill, Phillips argued that the failure to acknowledge specific patterns and characteristics displayed by these criminal networks has become a dangerous blind spot. This denial, she claimed, allows predators to continue operating with impunity.
A History of Warnings Ignored
Phillips highlighted her long-standing efforts to sound the alarm, revealing she has raised the issue of group-based child sexual exploitation consistently for a decade. She expressed deep frustration that her warnings, and those of other experts and victims, have too often been dismissed or met with inaction.
"The idea that we are not in denial about what has happened and what is happening in our country, I'm afraid, is for the birds," she stated emphatically to fellow MPs.
Challenging the Official Response
The MP directly challenged the government's stance, particularly criticising the recent response by Home Office minister Laura Farris. Phillips disputed the minister's claim that authorities had moved past outdated notions of 'political correctness' that previously hampered investigations.
She pointed to the continued reluctance to openly discuss and document the common ethnic and cultural backgrounds of grooming gang members as evidence that denial remains deeply embedded within the system. This refusal to collect and analyse data, she argued, is a critical failure that prevents effective prevention strategies.
The Human Cost of Inaction
Moving beyond political rhetoric, Phillips grounded her argument in the harrowing reality faced by victims. She described how the collective denial directly translates into ongoing suffering for children who are systematically targeted and abused.
Her central plea was for a robust, honest, and evidence-based approach that prioritises the safety of children over any fear of causing offence. Until this denial is confronted head-on, she warned, the fight against these organised grooming networks will remain ineffective, leaving countless young people at risk.
