THE dad of a grooming gang survivor says Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell should be “ashamed” for belittling the scandal – as calls grow for her to quit.
Marlon West hit out after the senior politician appeared to downplay the scandal when asked if she watched a shocking telly show on the matter.
The Labour government is already under pressure for rejecting a national inquiry but instead promoting local-level probes.
West’s daughter Scarlett, now 20, was one of five victims who featured on a hard-hitting Channel 4 programme screened last week.
Mr West said: “Scarlett and I, who shared our story in the documentary despite the emotional challenges, are outraged by Lucy Powell.
“We feel abused and disrespected once again, and we did not anticipate this kind of treatment from government leaders.”
He added that he felt like a “political tool” for an excuse to be critical towards political opponents- rather than supporting a national inquiry.
His daughter was abused, groomed and trafficked from the age of 14 only escaping from the clutches of the gangs two years ago.
The Commons Leader participated in a discussion on BBC Radio 4 on Friday, during which Reform campaigner Tim Montgomerie mentioned a program highlighting five women’s stories of experiencing grooming and abuse.
Ms Powell replied: “Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Let’s get that dog whistle out, shall we?”
She put out an apology saying she was challenging the political point scoring rather than the issue itself.
Powell was also attacked by Sarah Wilson who suffered at the hands of paedophile gangs from the age of 11 in Rotherham.
She said: “This is what victims and survivors have been up against all these years. This is why we weren’t listened to.
“They never cared and they never will. [They] totally dismissed survivors and our experiences of being groomed.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting came to Powell’s defense on Sunday, stating: “I don’t believe for a second that she intended to suggest that addressing these issues is a form of dog-whistle politics.”
He added: “We all make mistakes” and the important thing is that “we own it”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp remarked, “Anyone who has watched the distressing Channel 4 documentary will understand that it is more evident than ever that this is not a ‘dog whistle.’”
“To dismiss thousands of victims who were raped and the cover up that followed is sickening. She should resign.”
Tory MP Katie Lam had earlier issued a call for her to resign.
A source close to Ms Powell said she deeply regrets the comments and insists the matters are incredibly serious and important.
