Ruperations

Henry's father is entitled to his grief, his wishes, and the privacy to bury his son in peace. But Henry was not just his father's son. He was this country's son too. When I saw Henry die, I pictured my own son the same age. The girls abused by the rape gangs were not just somebody else's daughters - They were all our daughters. When I hear the brutal reality of the grooming gangs, I picture my own beautiful daughter's. We can't just react when it only effects us directly. Those of us over 35 grew up in a different Britain. We welcomed people from all over the world. We have family members, friends, neighbours and loved ones of every race, religion and background. We were the generation that challenged racism, marched for equality, opposed foreign wars, and taught our children that a person's character mattered more than the colour of their skin, their faith, or where their parents were born. We did not do all that so our children could become disposable. We did not teach tolerance so that our own children could be treated as second-class citizens in their homeland. We did not tell our children to be kind, open and trusting because we imagined they would one day be left to bleed to death on a driveway, blown apart at a concert, or trafficked, raped and passed around towns and cities while politicians, police forces and public institutions looked the other way. Our generation kept its side of the bargain. The country did not.