Whistleblower Exposes Labour Minister: Maggie Oliver Slams Response to Rochdale Rape Gang Error

Former Officer Maggie Oliver Criticizes Lucy Powell’s Remarks on Grooming Gangs

Maggie Oliver, a former police officer turned activist, has expressed strong disapproval of comments made by Commons leader Lucy Powell regarding grooming gangs, stating that Powell’s comments reflect a lack of “humanity or integrity”.

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In an interview with GB News, Oliver voiced her concern that Powell’s words exemplify the disdain that previous administrations have demonstrated towards victims of grooming gangs.

Oliver’s Reaction to Powell’s Comments

“It’s insensitive, it’s insulting, it’s dismissive,” Oliver articulated during the interview. She further suggested that Powell inadvertently exposed the true sentiments held by politicians behind closed doors, describing it as a “horrendous mistake”.

Oliver expressed outrage over Powell’s comments during a discussion on grooming gangs, labeling her as lacking “humanity, integrity, or even the most basic understanding” of the trauma experienced by the victims.

The incident that sparked Oliver’s outrage occurred during an episode of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions, where Powell interrupted Tim Montgomerie of Reform UK as he inquired why Labour had obstructed a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Public and Political Reactions

Following her comments, Powell took to social media to apologize, clarifying that her intent was to challenge “political point scoring” rather than the issue at hand.

Moreover, Oliver made a bold assertion on GB News, accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of being “complicit” in the cover-up of child sex grooming gangs. She tied this claim to Starmer’s past role as Director of Public Prosecutions at the time of the Rochdale grooming gang cases.

Oliver recalled her support for a victim who was impregnated at 13, whose abuser was sentenced to just over three years in prison. “As Director of Public Prosecutions, in my opinion, there is no doubt that he knew what charges were being brought,” she affirmed.

New Advocacy Efforts

Oliver revealed that she has initiated a campaign dubbed #TheyKnew, collaborating with other survivors and legal experts to hold those at the top of public institutions accountable. The campaign seeks to undertake private prosecutions or civil actions against officials who have been involved in covering up abuse.

“The time for talking has long gone,” Oliver declared, criticizing the government for their failure to act on recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

She also mentioned threatening a judicial review in January, after which the government promised a timeline by Easter—a deadline that has not been met. Furthermore, Oliver accused Starmer of labeling victims and whistleblowers like herself as “far-right extremists.”

These statements and actions highlight a continuing and contentious debate surrounding how grooming gangs are addressed and discussed in public and political spheres in the UK.