Eamonn Holmes takes aim at 'grooming gang' terminology in blistering rant as Labour scandal escalates: 'They raped these children!'
WATCH NOW: Eamonn Holmes fumes at the terminology used around the child exploitation scandal
GB News
GB News host Eamonn Holmes has expressed his outrage at the grooming gangs scandal in a blistering rant, claiming that the terminology being used is "wrong".
As Labour face mounting pressure to act after dismissing calls for an inquiry into historic abuse in Oldham, Eamonn argued that using the term "grooming" downplays the severity of the crimes committed against children.
"Why we keep on just using this term grooming and grooming gangs when they're not grooming gangs," Eamonn said on GB News.
He fumed: "The thing we've got to understand is that they are rape gangs, and I just think this makes it sound not so bad."
Eamonn Holmes hit out at the use of the term 'grooming gangs' as Labour's scandal continues to escalate
Following public criticism from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who branded Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips a "rape genocide apologist who should be put in jail", the Labour minister has admitted that she is facing fresh concerns for her personal safety.
Phillips told ITV: "You wake up with the realisation that that's millions of people that he has said that to, and you feel immediately like this is going to turn my world upside down."
When asked directly if the situation had affected her, Phillips confirmed: "Yeah a little bit, a lot. Well a lot actually it's... it's not great."
Delivering his verdict on the scandal, Eamonn told GB News viewers that the abusers "raped these children", and calling them "groomers" makes the abuse sound "not as bad".
Phillips has claimed that the threat to her safety has increased, following Musk's claims on social media
PAEamonn explained: "I just think this makes it sound not so bad. It's like they're saying 'come here, little girl, you're nice, have a sweetie' - no it's not.
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"They raped these children, and we should be saying that. That's what it should be anyway."
Phillips also emphasised that the controversy was distracting from her core mission of supporting victims of abuse.
"The only thing I ever want to be doing is being able to use all of my brain power to focus on the hundreds of girls I have supported over the years who have been victims of grooming gangs and what needs to happen to make their lives better," she told ITV News.
She expressed frustration that the controversy was consuming her time, noting that Musk "knows absolutely nothing about the subject he's talking about".
Holmes told GB News that they should be referred to as 'rape gangs'
GB News
Defending Phillips, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the Minister of Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls has "dedicated her career to tackling sexual violence and abuse".
Cooper also claimed Phillips is a "voice for victims and survivors of the most terrible crimes, including child sexual abuse".
A Government spokesperson has declared: "No child should ever suffer sexual abuse and exploitation, and it is paramount that we do more to protect vulnerable children.
"Which is why we are working at pace across Government to drive forward real action to implement the recommendations of the independent inquiry."
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