'What do you mean?!' Khan won’t say if grooming gangs roam London in heated City Hall exchange
Chloe Dobbs says Sadiq Khan's knighthood is 'rewarding failure'.
GB NEWS
Sir Sadiq Khan was involved in a heated City Hall exchange earlier today after refusing to answer if he was aware of any grooming gangs operating in London.
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.
But when pressed, Khan asked: “Can she define what she means by that?”
Hall referred to the abuse gangs in areas such as Rotherham and Bradford, but again Khan asked: “What does she mean by that?”
Sadiq Khan
LONDON ASSEMBLY
The Mayor conceded that young people were exploited in London, but claimed that the exploitation was “not as defined” by Hall.
Pressed again on the issue, the Mayor said: “To avoid a misunderstanding, what does she mean by that?”
He again asked Hall to “spell it out” after another explanation of group localised child sexual exploitation.
Hall said that they were “the sort of gangs that groom young girls at a young age for sex. How much clearer do you want me to be?”
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GB News has found evidence of rape gangs in over 50 towns in Britain, with many of them Pakistani-heritageGB NewsReacting to the spat, 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."
The row happened in the London Assembly this morning before Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that the Government would provide funding for a set of five local reviews into the grooming gangs scandal.
The Minister said that £10million had been provided to look into the issue, which will focus on Oldham Council and four other pilot areas to test and develop that an approach led by Tom Crowther KC, who organised the Telford inquiry.
Responding to Cooper's announcement, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “What the Home Secretary has announced today is totally inadequate.
"It will only cover a fraction of the towns affected, and the inquiries appear they will not have the powers they need.
Susan Hall
LONDON ASSEMBLY
“That is why we need a proper national public inquiry, covering the whole country and with powers under the inquiry act to obtain the evidence needed.”
The People's Channel has also been told by a grooming gangs survivor that the newly announced local inquiries are "a whitewash" and "not enough at all".
Elizabeth, who is a survivor from Rotherham's rape gang rings, told GB News: "There is nothing transparent. I'm back to the fight again. It's not enough at all.
"I'm sure we're just hearing the same old stuff. They are taking part in covering the cover up once again."
GB News has approached Khan for comment.
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