Former Labour MP Simon Danczuk has made shocking claims that senior Labour politicians pressured him to avoid discussing the ethnic and religious background of grooming gang perpetrators to protect the party’s voter base. His comments have caused outrage across the country, reigniting debates on how authorities and politicians have handled grooming scandals in towns like Rochdale and Rotherham.
Speaking to GB News, Danczuk shared his experience as the MP for Rochdale from 2010 to 2017. He alleged that senior Labour figures, including former MP Jim Dobbin and Tony Lloyd, then-chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, advised him not to bring up the ethnicity or religion of the offenders. According to Danczuk, they feared it would alienate British Muslim voters and hurt Labour’s support in certain areas.
“They told me it would affect Labour’s votes,” Danczuk said. He criticized the party for prioritizing political interests over addressing the issue. He also pointed out that despite his years of work fighting child abuse, former Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper never contacted him, even as he gained recognition from figures like then-Home Secretary Theresa May.
Danczuk accused Labour of hesitating to support a national inquiry into grooming gangs. He specifically criticized Jess Phillips, known for advocating women’s rights, for rejecting calls for a government-backed investigation. Instead, she suggested leaving the matter to local councils, such as Oldham’s, which many argue lack the resources to handle such cases effectively.
The former MP stressed that ethnicity and religion played a role in these crimes and accused Labour of failing victims by avoiding these difficult truths. “Labour cares more about votes than confronting hard realities,” Danczuk stated, calling this approach a betrayal of the victims.
GB News presenter Matt Goodwin supported calls for a national inquiry to hold all responsible parties accountable, from local councils to police. Reform MP Rupert Lowe agreed, describing the situation as a systemic failure. He advocated for deporting foreign nationals involved in these crimes and stripping dual citizens of British citizenship to send a clear message.
Critics argue that Labour’s political strategy in constituencies with large Muslim populations has made the party cautious about addressing grooming gangs. Independent candidates have already started to weaken Labour’s majority in some areas.
The demand for a comprehensive investigation is growing, with some comparing this issue to the Post Office scandal, which revealed widespread institutional failures. While Labour has not yet responded to Danczuk’s claims, public anger continues to rise. Many are calling for immediate action to ensure such atrocities are never repeated.
