This week, in a jaw-dropping exchange captured on video, London Mayor Sadiq Khan appeared unable—or unwilling—to grasp the meaning of the term “grooming gang” when questioned repeatedly by London Assembly Member, Susan Hall.
Sadiq Khan’s evasive performance would be laughable if the subject weren’t so grave. Watch below:
The Mayor faced questions from former London Tory leader Susan Hall, who demanded to know if he was aware of any gangs operating in the capital.
Susan Hall, demanding answers, repeatedly pressed Khan on whether he was aware of any such gangs operating in the capital. But the Mayor appeared to sidestep the questions, responding with: “Can she define what she means by that?”
When Hall clarified her reference to the abuse gangs uncovered in towns like Rotherham and Bradford, Khan again asked: “What does she mean by that?”
Khan then claimed such exploitation was “not as defined” by Hall. When pressed further, he continued to evade: “To avoid a misunderstanding, what does she mean by that?”
Even after Hall explicitly described the perpetrators as “the sort of gangs that groom young girls at a young age for sex,” Khan insisted she needed to “spell it out.”
Reacting to the spat, Susan Hall told GB News: “Everyone across this country knows what the grooming gangs are, and I don’t believe Khan for one minute when he says it’s unclear.
“Young girls were hopelessly abused, and may yet still be suffering abuse if these gangs continue to operate. This isn’t about politics – we need answers, and we need them now.
“Pathetically shirking his responsibilities is not going to cut it. Khan dodged the questions today, he needs to come to the assembly and answer them – and put the concerns of Londoners at ease.”
And this isn’t an isolated case. Also this week in Coventry, Deputy Councillor Abdul Khan rejected calls for an inquiry, astonishingly claiming he had “never heard” of grooming gangs in his city—this, despite multiple prosecutions for such heinous crimes during his tenure.
When asked directly on Tuesday if he would instigate a review, the deputy Labour Leader responded: “In all the time I’ve been a cabinet member, I’ve never heard any reference being made with respect to Coventry and grooming gangs.” He added, “It’s never been an issue in Coventry.”
Yet contrary to the Labour councillor’s assertion, reports on the Coventry Council’s own website documents dozens of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) suspects in the city.
This pattern of denial and deflection from Labour officials is not an anomaly; it is part of a disturbing trend.
And let us not forget Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister who forced his MPs to vote against a national inquiry just a week ago. Only after facing a public backlash did he U-turn, as he so often does, and offer a token gesture of five local investigations. A mere fig leaf to cover Labour’s reluctance to confront the truth.
As Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp says, Labour’s plan is “wholly inadequate.” He quite rightly points out that the local inquiries would not have the powers to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence under oath.
Why a National Inquiry Is Essential
Labour’s preference for local inquiries is not just inadequate—it is a betrayal. They lack the scope and authority to address the systemic failures that allowed these crimes to persist for so long.
Also Labour cannot be allowed to play judge and jury over their own failures. The absence of a coordinated, national inquiry will leave survivors without closure and communities without answers. Each day of delay compounds the injustice and allows lessons that could safeguard future generations to go unlearned.
The British people are not asking for political games or half-measures. They are demanding action, accountability, and justice. A full, independent, and judge-led national inquiry is not just a moral imperative—it is a practical necessity.
This is not about partisan politics. It is about protecting our daughters, restoring faith in our institutions, and ensuring that no child is ever again subjected to the horrors of systemic abuse.
So, Prime Minister Starmer, the time for half-baked promises and empty gestures is over. Britain’s daughters deserve better. They deserve the truth. They deserve justice. And they deserve it now.
Do the right thing. Launch the national inquiry.
