'Holds a mirror to our nation!' Suella Braverman unleashes rant on grooming gangs

Braverman said: "British values, Judeo-Christian culture that we must subscribe to in Britain that made Britain great.

"That was the foundation of Western civilisation, which propagates respect the rule of law, respect and equal rights for women.

"Freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion. These fundamental liberties and civility define what I see as Western values, British values, but unfortunately, there are many people who come into this country and they don't subscribe to those British values.

"For instance, their views of women. They treat women as chattel. They see women and Western women as objects that they can abuse and exploit.

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"We have to look at who we are as a nation. This whole episode is really raising up a mirror to our country.

"We have a big question to ask ourselves are we going to stand confidently behind those those values that you just talked about that made our country great, that have made Western civilisation great around the world?

"Or are we going to cower and bend the knee to outdated, outmoded, and frankly, harmful values that are undermining our country?"

The political row over grooming gangs has intensified, with Conservative and Reform UK MPs demanding a national inquiry while Labour remains opposed.

The dispute erupted following tech billionaire Elon Musk's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer's handling of the issue.

The Conservatives plan to force Labour MPs to vote on a national inquiry in the Commons tomorrow.

Labour's safeguarding minister Jess Phillips recently rejected Oldham Council's request for a government-led public inquiry into local grooming gangs.

Prime Minister Starmer has maintained his opposition, stating yesterday: "This doesn't need more consultation, it doesn't need more research, it just needs action".

Professor Alexis Jay, former chair of the child sexual abuse inquiry, has firmly rejected calls for another investigation into grooming gangs.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she warned that a new inquiry would "certainly cause delays" in implementing existing recommendations.

"We've had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions," Jay said, urging immediate action for victims and survivors.

She expressed concern about the "politicisation of child sexual exploitation", noting that recent public discourse had largely ignored the "appalling and lifelong effects" on children.