Five female survivors of grooming gangs are demanding an apology from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage after he suggested that they were not victims of grooming gangs, but of other types of child sexual abuse. The women, who are part of a panel advising the UK government's inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation, described Farage's remarks as 'degrading and humiliating'.
The survivors wrote to Keir Starmer and said they would only remain on the panel if Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, stayed in her role and 'anyone who believes their evidence should be included' could contribute. They accused Farage of asserting that they were 'survivors of other abuse, not grooming gangs' — a statement they say is 'categorically untrue'.
