Minister urged to quit over grooming gangs comment

Lucy Powell implied issue was used as racist 'dog whistle'

- DAVID MADDOX

The leader of the House of Commons is facing calls to quit after she appeared to dismiss concerns over the grooming gangs scandal as "dog whistle" politics.

Lucy Powell's remark came on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? when she was responding to a point by Reform UK's Tim Montgomerie.

Ms Powell interrupted as he was trying to question why Labour has blocked a national inquiry into the way gangs of men targeted young girls in towns and cities around the UK with the authorities failing to act.

She said: "Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Let's get that dog whistle out, shall we?" Her comment received widespread backlash and she was accused of belittling the issue. The shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, has called for her to resign. Labour has been resisting calls for a national inquiry and recently cancelled five local inquiries it had promised.