To want Sadiq Khan to answer this question

[OpheliaWasntMad]

Are there grooming gangs in London?

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/grooming-gangs-london-mayor-sadiq-khan-stonewalling-tory-questions-b1205508.html

You said:

professionals being so worried about being racist that they dismissed or ignored the fairly obvious signs that Victoria Climbie was being abused.

The social workers who assumed her behaviour was due to culture were not concerned about being seen as racist. You're not the only person who's read the report.

Well unless Susan Hall is completely thick, we can assume she was asking about Asian grooming gangs in London. If that assumption is incorrect and she was genuinely whether there are any type of grooming gangs in London, then she is a dingbat and if she doesn’t know that, she probably shouldn’t be listened to at all.

Tbf though, I wish Sadiq had just answered the question and shown everyone how stupid this woman clearly is!

we can assume she was asking about Asian grooming gangs in London

Well you might as you have a clear political loyalty.

But that's just more of the same twisting, obfuscating and dodging that has led to where we are now.

The social workers were also not the only professionals involved and subject to criticism and neither were they all black (which in itself is not evidence racism was not in play of course). You don’t see to have dealt with that part. I also do not agree that Black British social workers might not be concerned about calling out practices that they seemed to assume were normal amongst African people in case this was seen as prejudiced or racist. Neither did Laming. He specifically criticised the suggestion made by those professionals that standing to attention to salute one’s guardian and wetting oneself in fear was part of the African Caribbean script.

Not sure how this is not part of the exact same lazy thinking which was in play at Rotheram or has people wringing their hands over racist dog whistles which seem to justify an elected official pretending he doesn’t know what grooming gangs are or sneering at people trying to raise this issue.

The social workers were also not the only professionals involved and subject to criticism and neither were they all black (which in itself is not evidence racism was not in play of course). You don’t see to have dealt with that part. I also do not agree that Black British social workers might not be concerned about calling out practices that they seemed to assume were normal amongst African people in case this was seen as prejudiced or racist. Neither did Laming. He specifically criticised the suggestion made by those professionals that standing to attention to salute one’s guardian and wetting oneself in fear was part of the African Caribbean script.

Not sure how this is not part of the exact same lazy thinking which was in play at Rotheram or has people wringing their hands over racist dog whistles which seem to justify an elected official pretending he doesn’t know what grooming gangs are or sneering at people trying to raise this issue.

I have no idea what you're talking about. The report said that racism played a part in Victoria's death. He was specifically talking about the fact that so many agencies were aware of her case but didn't act.

He also talked about her being from a different culture and how that was interpreted. He did not say that people didn't act because they feared being called racist.

The social workers were also not the only professionals involved and subject to criticism and neither were they all black (which in itself is not evidence racism was not in play of course). You don’t see to have dealt with that part. I also do not agree that Black British social workers might not be concerned about calling out practices that they seemed to assume were normal amongst African people in case this was seen as prejudiced or racist. Neither did Laming. He specifically criticised the suggestion made by those professionals that standing to attention to salute one’s guardian and wetting oneself in fear was part of the African Caribbean script.

Not sure how this is not part of the exact same lazy thinking which was in play at Rotheram or has people wringing their hands over racist dog whistles which seem to justify an elected official pretending he doesn’t know what grooming gangs are or sneering at people trying to raise this issue.

The social workers were also not the only professionals involved and subject to criticism and neither were they all black (which in itself is not evidence racism was not in play of course). You don’t see to have dealt with that part. I also do not agree that Black British social workers might not be concerned about calling out practices that they seemed to assume were normal amongst African people in case this was seen as prejudiced or racist. Neither did Laming. He specifically criticised the suggestion made by those professionals that standing to attention to salute one’s guardian and wetting oneself in fear was part of the African Caribbean script.

Not sure how this is not part of the exact same lazy thinking which was in play at Rotheram or has people wringing their hands over racist dog whistles which seem to justify an elected official pretending he doesn’t know what grooming gangs are or sneering at people trying to raise this issue.

Yes I do give a stuff.

But I also don't think that Sadiq Khan doesn't give a stuff. I think he shouldn't be forced into answering someone badgering him "for the show of (insert empathy, publicity or other words). It doesn't help deal with them and indeed what right minded person has any sympathy or understanding for these gangs. It serves literally no purpose.

I think refusing to answer the question appears arrogant, dismissive and negligent of his responsibility ( given he is Mayor of London and there is rightly a spotlight on grooming gangs atm)

(And in answer to your question - No I’m not Susan Hall . You don’t have to be a right wing Tory to feel that he should have answered this question)

She clearly specifically meant "rape gangs" comprised predominantly comprised of Pakistani men, or "Muslim rape gangs" (as some call them) but wanted to imply it, not say it.

Honestly it struck me as a bit cowardly. She came across as not particularly interested in the harms that girls in London may be exposed to, and just wanted to know if the perpetrators were (to use her indirect phrasing) of the "the same sorts" as in Rotherham, etc. but was only prepared to imply it, not say it.

Which makes me think this was more playing-politics than sincere concerns.

Khan is hopeless in every way. No point in even asking him anything. 🤷‍♀️😡

Did she contact Boris Johnson and ask him as former mayor whether he knew of grooming gangs in London and what steps he took?

What does she hope to gain from an answer? What do you hope to gain from an answer? I am not being goady - I am genuinely interested in what purpose the question and any answer given would serve.

Noone in their right mind supports or thinks it is an acceptable practice to groom and rape children or adults so I am genuinely trying to understand why the question needed to be asked and answered.

You might be right in your view about her. I know people are using this scandal for their own political ends. But he should have answered her question regardless. ( maybe his answer could have included a pointed reference to the failure of the Tories in this area - that would be fine )

”I am genuinely trying to understand why the question needed to be asked and answered.”
An earlier poster asked me whether I wanted another set of riots and racial tension and it gave me pause for thought because I definitely don’t want those things.
I think he made a mistake in not answering because it feeds into a narrative that politicians are more interested in political ideology and keeping votes than in keeping children safe .

I asked mumsnet to remove this thread because I was concerned it could become inflammatory which was not my intention. They didn’t do that but they said they would take it out of active threads to stop it becoming a shit show ( my words )
I hope anyone who posts on here will keep things civil.

He should have answered the question to show some respect to the fact that this is an important issue- not “to show how stupid this woman clearly is”
He’s the Mayor of London- what about decency and ethics in public service?
Can’t he ignore his irritation with her trying to make political mileage out of this?
Can’t he just focus on the important stuff ?

Surely the important stuff is carrying out his mayoral duties and not becoming entrenched in what people (not meaning the OP) are clearly trying to make into a race issue. We all know there is a contigent who don't like that London has a Muslim Mayor who is non-white.

I’m totally ok with a Muslim Mayor. Just come home from work after a long conversation on this issue with my work colleague /good friend who is Muslim.
It’s hard to have an honest discussion about this issue which is why I wanted to remove my thread. Hopefully the fact that mumsnet keeps it out of “active “ means it won’t be hijacked .
I don’t want sensitivities about race to trump child safety.

@OpheliaWasntMad the reality is the race issue is exactly what Susan Hill was/is trying to push and therefore using this as the stick to beat him with on the grooming issue doesn't actually lead to a useful discussion.

Yes - I get that. But those of us who don’t want demonisation of whole communities have to also acknowledge that the abuse of vulnerable working class girls has not been addressed and the cover up has given grist to the mill of the Tommy Robinson brigade.
We have to allow the conversation and admit the mistakes.
Im not on Susan Hall’s side BUT I’m not confident Sadiq Khan cares about anything apart from his political career ( I’d say the same about Susan Hall btw)

Sorry you lost me now that you think Tommy Robinson has any day in this matter.

I don’t think he has any say … but he’s making mileage.
Im sorry you misinterpreted my post .

I think you are doing that thing that I despise- you’re twisting my meaning.
A shame because I tried to meet you in good faith.

What’s also deeply strange is the majority of people with extreme negative opinions of him don’t even live in London. Don’t they have their own metro mayors to hold to account?

Additionally why would Khan respond to Hall? I live in London. The campaign she ran was disgusting and showed she actually hates the city she wanted to be mayor of. All she wanted was a pulpit from which to spew poison. She’s a racist who also proved over and over again how unbelievably dim she is. This is why voters rejected her. Londoners recognise that leaders like her build nothing, they don’t lead, they just yell about what they hate.

She gives less than a shiny shit about victims of grooming gangs. She never mentioned it before. She just wants to goad Khan into creating a Daily Mail headline that can be interpreted as him supporting two tier policing of Muslims.

Grooming and rape are crimes. He’s not going to support either of them. All he can ever say is it’s terrible and he backs the police in dealing with it regardless of the ethnicity of the perpetrators or victims.

Nevertheless for all their screaming about ‘two tier policing’ (a phrase which has thankfully died out because everyone knew it was bollocks), the racists genuinely believe it’s ‘worse’ when the perp is Muslim and the victim white. It’s not an issue if the perp and victim are both white. Look at that guy who killed three women with a crossbow after raping one. He was jailed last week without a peep. Imagine if he’d been Asian?

He’s only making mileage with people like you who were already leaning his way. You can try and seem reasonable and ‘just’ want a ‘debate’ but we know your true motives here.

Your obsession with this one man who has no connection to these particular crimes and won’t know any more than the head of the Met police would know is obvious.

Its you who is not posting in good faith at all.