Sarah Champion is being used as a ‘scapegoat’ after warning of cultural link in child sex cases, critics claim

From the Telegraph.  Some of us despaired when Rotherham followed the unthinking tradition of the northern working town and continued to vote Labour even with their history of collusion and cover-up in the girl rape abuse. But at least in Sarah Champion they have picked a woman in the Ann Cryer tradition. 

Amina Lone, the co-director of the Social Action and Research Foundation, said the former Equalities shadow minister should not have been asked to leave Jeremy Corbyn’s front bench team last night. She told the BBC’s Newsnight programme: “She has been punished and used as a scapegoat because as a politician she’s an easy target”, adding that Labour should not have forced her into silence. 

Government minister Sajid Javid also criticised the decision to force Ms Champion out, tweeting: “Corbyn wrong to sack Sarah Champion. We need an honest open debate on child sexual exploitation, including racial motivation”.

Other MPs have also spoken up in defence of Ms Champion, including Labour’s Barry Sheerman, who wrote: “I don’t understand the forced resignation of Sarah Champion and nor will my constituents”.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton wrote: “Those of us with experience in this area know Sarah Champion is highly respected for exposing child sexual abuse and  should be listened to . . . “

It came as  Yasmin Qureshi, Labour’s shadow justice minister, refused to accept the Pakistani community has a particular issue with child grooming, despite high-profile cases in Yorkshire and the north of the country. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that all abuse should be looked into and angrily rejected any cultural link.

Last night critics accused Mr Corbyn of “stalinist” tendancies after it emerged that the Labour leader had asked for Ms Champion’s resignation.

Tim Loughton again “UK Labour bury your heads as much as you like in the black and white purist world you push. The chickens will come home to roost”.