A Nation’s Shame – Grooming gang survivors speak to BBC Newsnight

BBC Newsnight aired a pivotal programme on 2nd June 2025, addressing the UK’s ongoing grooming gang crisis, with a view to spotlighting the perspectives of survivors and the government’s response.

Survivor Perspectives and Government Response

The Newsnight episode featured five survivors of grooming, sharing their  harrowing experiences and highlighting systemic failures that allowed such abuse to persist. Their experiences highlight the urgent need for comprehensive action and accountability.

In response to mounting pressure, in January 2025 Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a “rapid national audit” into grooming gangs.  The government asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead a three-month review into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

The government has promised the review will uncover “the true scale of grooming gangs in the UK”, including looking at the issues surrounding ethnicity.

Additionally, up to five local inquiries are set to be launched, including one in Oldham, to investigate specific cases and ensure a victim-centred approach.

On 2nd June 2025, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips apologised to MPs for the delay in Baroness Casey’s review being completed.

The Newsnight episode also touched upon the political debate surrounding the issue, with figures such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Labour’s Keir Starmer offering different views on the need for further investigations. 

Kemi Badenoch’s Position

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a comprehensive national public inquiry into grooming gangs, arguing that previous investigations have failed to hold institutions accountable and have been insufficient. 

She contends that existing inquiries have not fully examined the extent of institutional failures and the cultural factors contributing to the abuse. Badenoch emphasises the need for an inquiry with the power to compel witnesses to testify under oath, aiming to uncover the full scope of the issue and ensure accountability. 

Keir Starmer’s Response

Labour leader Keir Starmer has rejected calls for a new national inquiry, arguing that multiple investigations have already been conducted, including the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) led by Professor Alexis Jay, which concluded in 2022 and took seven years to complete.

Starmer’s position is that the focus should now be on implementing the recommendations from these inquiries, such as introducing mandatory reporting for professionals working with children and making grooming an aggravating factor in sentencing, rather than launching additional investigations that could delay necessary actions. 

He criticises the Conservative approach as politically motivated, accusing Badenoch of using the issue to score political points and “jumping on the bandwagon”.  

Political and Public Reactions

The debate has sparked significant political and public debate. Supporters of a new inquiry, including Conservative MPs and some victims’ advocates, argue that existing investigations have not sufficiently addressed the scale of the abuse or the failures of the institutions involved. They contend that a new inquiry with broader powers is necessary to uncover the full extent of the problem and ensure accountability. 

In contrast, critics including some victims’ advocates, agree with Starmer’s position and argue that the focus should be on implementing existing recommendations and taking concrete actions to protect children. They express concern that calls for a new inquiry may be politically motivated and could divert attention from urgent reforms needed to prevent further abuse. 

This ongoing debate highlights the tension between calls for further investigation and the imperative for immediate action, to address the issue of grooming gangs and to protect vulnerable children.

Calls for Comprehensive Action

The Newsnight episode concluded with a call to action, urging policymakers to prioritise the voices of survivors and implement meaningful reforms to prevent future abuse. It served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges in tackling grooming gangs and the importance of sustained commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals.