Forced resignation of Sarah Champion, the MP for Rotherham as the Shadow Secretary of State for Women and equalities, by Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has taken Britain by storm. Sarah Champion was merely reiterating what newspapers have been writing for years. There is a problem that has existed in Rochadale, Rotherham and several other parts of Britain. Non Muslim girls and white girls have been groomed over years by especially Muslim men- something that has come to light only recently. Addressed as Asian men, out of political correctness, researches have revealed that three-fourth of these men are of Pakistani origin, something that has completely devastated the community and damaged its reputation. Champion's comment also came after 17 men and a woman – mostly British born and from Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Iraqi, Indian, Iranian and Turkish communities were convicted in Newcastle of 90 offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, conspiracy to prompt prostitution and child trafficking.
The Labour leader stood strong saying Pakistani men grooming white girl- the statement singles out a particular community, and it is wrong of Champion to do so. He warned that grooming cases are happening across the country and that no one culture should be singled out.
Champion resigned after being asked to do so by Corbyn. It followed an article she wrote in The Sun where the MP for Rotherham warned politicians should not be afraid to discuss the relative high number of sexual exploitation and grooming cases against Pakistani men in the UK.
A Yougov survey of 4923 people revealed that 39% agreed that Champion “raised awareness of the issue in the right way and should have stuck to her gangs.”
Corbyn's effective sacking of Champion from the Shadow cabinet for saying that Britain has a problem with Pakistani men grooming white girls is actually a disgrace. Corbyn may have a duty to be politically correct, but at the same time Champion has a right to take the bull by the horn. Champion is the local MP of that particular place, where white and many non Muslim but Asian girls have suffered unimaginable abuses in the hands of Muslim men, most of who are Pakistani. It is factually correct to say that around 1400 girls were abused between 1997 and 2013 in Champion's constituency, and it is not racist to note that culprits were mainly Muslim men of South Asian origin. While many Asian girls have not come out in public, mainly due to cultural complications, the other victims, mostly whites have taken a strong stand. It has revolutionised the whole socio-cultural system of Britain, much to Corbyn's ignorance.
It was first cowardly to refuse to tackle these crimes for fear of being called racist. In fact one reseracher who tried to raise the alarm was sent on an ethnicity and diversity course. But finally the cat is out of the bag- to perhaps many people's horror and dislikings. Does the mainstream feel that South Asians and overall Muslims feel a sense of pride in such crimes? The answer is no. Their shame in the men of their community and their disgraceful behaviour is much bigger than a MP's political correctness. It is a stigma they will have to fight against for years and a reason for which they have to prove their loyalty all over again to this country. But that does not make them cowards. Their ownership abilities are much higher than the Labour party leader's understanding of the cultual nuances.
The Home Secretary Lord Blunkett has reportedly and correctly pointed out that “political and cultural sensitivities” must not get in the way of fighting child abuse. Trevor Philips, the equality campaigner wrote in The Daily Telegraph that it was time “to call a spade a spade...without embarassment.” In fact the fall of Champion shows just how much has the Labour party moved away from mainstream opinion.
Champion's outspokenness on this issue is based on the knowledge and hard experiences. Britain's experiement with political correctness has actually aggravaded this issue. If Corbyn presents himself as the voice of the poor and opressed, he has now lost a team member who was actually trying to stand up for the real oppressed and doing her job as per her profile demanded. Suffering from ostrich syndrome, avoiding confrontations and self examinations is not a solution- and Corbyn being head of Her Majesty's Opposition must realise it before it's way too late. The Asian community itself is completely shocked and disgusted at such lowly activities by their own. Tarnishing a community's name was not in Champion's motive as it clearly stands- in fact she was merely reiterating what people are thinking of, and if Corbyn does not like it, it's reflects badly on him, but definitely not on her.
Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, and a Muslim himself said that the Labour leader was wrong to sack Champion and called for an open discussion on the issue of culture and religion.
Rebecca Hilsenrath, the Equality and Human Rights Commission chief executive, said, “It is this climate where problems cannot be frankly discussed and tackled, that led to neglect, for so long, of the victims of these terrible crimes.”
Nazir Afzal a former chief crown prosecuter who led the team prosecuting child grooming in Rochadale said that Corbyn's remarks amounted to 'unhelpful generalisations'. He reportedly said, “When it comes to street grooming, British-Pakistanis and men of South Asian backgrounds are disproportionately involved. That is the fact. It is the reality of what we've prosecuted...to be aware of the perpetrator profile.”
