Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

MP with "credible claim" of harassment against him wants to set up his own public inquiry into "Rape Gangs"

28 replies

IwantToRetire · 28/03/2025 18:57

So this is the MP - is he still Reform or has he been expelled?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdel8xydx80o

Quote:

Structure of the Inquiry:

  • A qualified panel will be appointed to oversee the inquiry.
  • A legal advisory team will support the panel throughout the inquiry.
The inquiry will take place in three defined stages: Stage 1 – Launch & Evidence Collection
  • Official launch of the inquiry with a call for written evidence.
  • A secure submission process will be set up with a clear deadline for all submissions.
Stage 2 – Public Hearings
  • A multiple day live-streamed hearing period.
  • Hearings will be closed to the public (for safety and control) but broadcast online to ensure transparency.
  • Panel-led questioning of witnesses; in cases of non-attendance, questions will still be put on record.
  • Witness protection and safeguarding will be prioritised.
Stage 3 – Report & Publication
  • A closed period for the panel to compile findings and draft the report.
  • Pre-set publication date for the final report.
  • Follow-up Q&A session led by Rupert and the panel to publicly respond to the findings.
Core Inquiry Questions To maintain focus and deliver actionable conclusions, the inquiry will centre around three key questions:
  • What happened?
  • How did it happen?
  • Why was it allowed to happen?

Witnesses/participants
Victims and Survivors

  • Individuals affected by grooming gangs who are willing to share their experiences.
  • Survivors will be given the option to testify anonymously or via written/video statement to ensure their safety and comfort.
Whistleblowers and Frontline Professionals
  • Police officers, social workers, and council employees who raised concerns or witnessed systemic failings.
  • Former professionals who left their positions in protest or disillusionment.

There's quite a lot more detail, and if you search for Rape Gang Inquiry and name of the MP you should probably find it.

I couldn't find any info about what status the inquiry would have, and even if it functions well what the objective is.

And more importantly, if it is effectively just a private project, how safe and supported would vulnerable witnesses be?

Is it just agit prop rable rousing, or could it lead to ... what?

Rupert Lowe looks to camera wearing a tan suit after his election victory in July 2024

Credible harassment claims against MP Rupert Lowe, report finds

The Great Yarmouth MP denies the allegations and claims his suspension from Reform UK was politically motivated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdel8xydx80o

OP posts:
SionnachRuadh · 29/03/2025 20:03

If he's as successful with this inquiry as he was running Southampton FC, it's not going anywhere.

The bullying and harassment stuff speaks to Lowe's character, but the political side concerns me more. I know Nigel Farage is not a popular man in these parts, but hear me out.

Back in the early days of UKIP, when it was just trying to find its feet, there was a noisy minority who wanted an alliance with the BNP. Farage defeated and expelled them. To this day he boasts quite sincerely that he's the man who killed the BNP, by giving alienated voters something non-fascist to vote for.

Later on he had similar trouble with people who wanted to hook up with Tommy Robinson and be a niche anti-Islam party. After the referendum when he resigned the leadership, they took over. You only have to look at the currently existing rump UKIP to see how successful that has been.

Lowe has some very similar people surrounding him, actually some of the very same people, which is probably part of why Farage wanted to get rid of him. Most of the anti-Farage people in that world seem to gravitate towards Tommyism. I predict Lowe will end up in the same place, and his inquiry needs to be seen as part of that.

Just my usual disclaimer here - left wingers looking for someone prominent on the left to speak up on rape gangs will be waiting a very long time. Even Julie Bindel feels that she has to put in disclaimers about how terrible it is that right wingers talk about the issue. I'm not saying that doesn't discourage people from speaking up, I just think there are lots of nice respectable centre-left people in Britain who would have been quite capable of turning a blind eye even if Tommy Robinson or Nick Griffin never existed.

nutmeg7 · 29/03/2025 09:51

IwantToRetire · 28/03/2025 18:57

So this is the MP - is he still Reform or has he been expelled?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdel8xydx80o

Quote:

Structure of the Inquiry:

  • A qualified panel will be appointed to oversee the inquiry.
  • A legal advisory team will support the panel throughout the inquiry.
The inquiry will take place in three defined stages: Stage 1 – Launch & Evidence Collection
  • Official launch of the inquiry with a call for written evidence.
  • A secure submission process will be set up with a clear deadline for all submissions.
Stage 2 – Public Hearings
  • A multiple day live-streamed hearing period.
  • Hearings will be closed to the public (for safety and control) but broadcast online to ensure transparency.
  • Panel-led questioning of witnesses; in cases of non-attendance, questions will still be put on record.
  • Witness protection and safeguarding will be prioritised.
Stage 3 – Report & Publication
  • A closed period for the panel to compile findings and draft the report.
  • Pre-set publication date for the final report.
  • Follow-up Q&A session led by Rupert and the panel to publicly respond to the findings.
Core Inquiry Questions To maintain focus and deliver actionable conclusions, the inquiry will centre around three key questions:
  • What happened?
  • How did it happen?
  • Why was it allowed to happen?

Witnesses/participants
Victims and Survivors

  • Individuals affected by grooming gangs who are willing to share their experiences.
  • Survivors will be given the option to testify anonymously or via written/video statement to ensure their safety and comfort.
Whistleblowers and Frontline Professionals
  • Police officers, social workers, and council employees who raised concerns or witnessed systemic failings.
  • Former professionals who left their positions in protest or disillusionment.

There's quite a lot more detail, and if you search for Rape Gang Inquiry and name of the MP you should probably find it.

I couldn't find any info about what status the inquiry would have, and even if it functions well what the objective is.

And more importantly, if it is effectively just a private project, how safe and supported would vulnerable witnesses be?

Is it just agit prop rable rousing, or could it lead to ... what?

It’s agit prop rebel rousing - he’s a shit stirrer, and will be using a terrible situation for his own ends. I don’t believe he has the expertise to run an enquiry where there are so many vulnerable witnesses. He would just use them as fodder and support for his own political position.

Summerhillsquare · 29/03/2025 06:21

He's a divisive far right shill, desperately stirring up trouble to distract from the accusations.

When will people learn, these types are not friends of feminism.