Labour minister urged to quit over ‘dog whistle’ remark on grooming gangs
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Commons leader forced to apologise over grooming gangs ‘dog whistle’ comment
- UK Commons Leader Lucy Powell faced criticism and calls to resign after seemingly dismissing concerns about grooming gangs as "dog whistle" politics during a BBC interview.
- Powell later apologized, clarifying that she was challenging the politicization of the issue, not the issue itself, and emphasized her experience dealing with such cases as an MP.
- Her remarks sparked backlash, with some accusing her of downplaying the seriousness of the crimes while others defended her, attributing the comments to a heated debate.
- The incident highlighted the sensitive nature of discussions surrounding grooming gangs and the potential for accusations of racism to stifle debate.
- Reform UK's Tim Montgomerie, whose question prompted Powell's remark, criticized the tendency to shut down important conversations by labeling concerns as racist.