Return of the Gulf

The rape gangs scandal is the greatest state failure in British history. Public bodies and politicians aided and abetted the mass rape and sexual exploitation of children. Predominantly white working-class girls were brutalised by criminal gangs who were (and still are) disproportionately men of Pakistani nationality or heritage. Inquiries and words are not enough. State-enabled child sexual exploitation continues to this day, including in Wigan and Makerfield. For decades, politicians like Andy Burnham, local authorities, the police and the media engaged in a conspiracy of silence - institutional avoidance in the name of political correctness. It is time for action. A Reform government will redress the harms caused by public servants in so many Labour-run local authorities. Within our first 100 days, we will: - Release all files held by public bodies relating to the grooming gangs, going back 40 years. - Increase police and National Crime Agency taskforce funding by £300m, taking it to £400m, so they can adequately investigate the perpetrators and the complicit police officers, social workers and politicians who enabled them. They will be given every resource they require. This is our plan to finally deliver justice for our girls.