Lee Anderson Brutally Slapped Down By Jess Phillips After Grooming Gangs Accusation
Lee Anderson was slapped down by Jess Phillips after he accused the minister of being involved in a “cover-up” over the grooming gangs scandal.
The rape and torture of vulnerable girls by gangs of men across the country shot to the top of the political agenda at the start of the year after Elon Musk attacked Labour – and safeguarding minister Phillips – over the government’s response.
Reform UK and the Conservatives called for a full public inquiry into the historic scandal in January but the government refused to support it.
Ministers say they are still trying to implement the recommendations of the last probe into the issue, carried out by Professor Alexis Jay, when the Tories were still in power.
Jay herself said a fresh probe is not needed, while PM Keir Starmer said those calling for a new inquiry were “amplifying the far-right”.
Labour instead unveiled plans for a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries.
But Anderson, a Reform UK MP, revived the row on Wednesday in the Commons.
“Thousands of young, white British working class girls have been raped, tortured and abused by Pakistani grooming gangs,” the MP for Ashfield began.
“Yet this minister here refuses to support a full national public inquiry.
“What I want to know is, Mr Speaker, is she part of the cover-up?”
Fellow MPs groaned in response to his question, with some shouting “shame” and “that’s dangerous” before Phillips stood up to respond.
Taking a deep breath, she said: “It really doesn’t deserve a response.
“And I actually quite like the honourable gentleman [Anderson].
“I have spent my entire career helping [victims]. I wonder how many victims he has sat and held hands with of grooming gangs?
“I wonder if he’s gone round to their houses in the morning, to get them out of bed, to get them into a court room?
“There’s absolutely no way that I would be part of any cover-up, I will do everything I can – under our home secretary, who will do everything she can – to make sure that those who are responsible are held accountable.”
