Kemi Badenoch criticized Whitehall’s “culture of fear and obfuscation” for allowing grooming gangs to evade justice, claiming civil servants avoid addressing challenging issues. In her Mail on Sunday commentary, she emphasized the need for a national inquiry into child sexual abuse and urged investigations to consider potential racial or religious motives behind the crimes. Badenoch also highlighted the failures of both government and protection agencies in confronting these issues. In an interview, she reflected on her reputation for confrontation, acknowledging the need to adapt her approach and be more empathetic towards others’ perspectives.
Whitehall’s culture of “fear and obfuscation” is allowing grooming gangs to remain unpunished, Kemi Badenoch said today.
Conservative leaders have attacked civil servants for what they see as a reluctance to tackle “difficult” issues.
Writing in today’s Mail on Sunday, she said: “We are unable to get to the bottom of how child sexual abuse occurs on a national scale for fear of inciting crime. is”. She further added: “And it’s not just our government agencies.
“It is also protection agencies that are obsessed with ‘inciting community tensions’ or being seen as ‘targeting’ certain ethnic groups.”
Mrs Badenoch is also calling for a full national inquiry into the rape gang scandal after Home Secretary Jess Phillips rejected calls for an investigation by Oldham Council.
Kemi Badenoch has attacked what she sees as the reluctance of civil servants to tackle “difficult” issues.
Mr Badenoch said the investigation should “consider the likely racial or religious motive of these crimes”. Photo: Keir Starmer
She said investigations “need to consider possible racial or religious motivations for these crimes.”
“We need to identify not only the individuals who facilitated or ignored these crimes, but also the failing organizations so that they can be removed from their roles,” she added.
In an exclusive interview with YOU magazine today, Badenoch also said that her reputation for being confrontational is all down to others mistaking her confidence for arrogance.
The Conservative Party leader has confessed that there is a “red mist” when faced with misconduct. But she also admits she may have to change.
“I treat people the same way I would treat myself,” she says.
“But now I realize I can’t do that because I’m not like everyone else. My skin is thick and I need to learn how to make myself soft for those who don’t have rhino skin. I have to.”
