Chris Philp says it is "absolutely disgraceful" that Sir Keir Starmer has labelled those "who are raising legitimate concerns" about grooming gangs as "far right". The shadow home secretary adds Elon Musk's social media attack on Labour's safeguarding minister Jess Phillips was "wrong", but says debate on the subject should not be "shut down". Report by Brooksl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00I think Keir Starmer's claims this morning are absolutely disgraceful. It is not correct
00:04to brand as far right people who are raising legitimate concerns about the systemic, organised
00:10gang rape of vulnerable young girls. It's that kind of attitude that Keir Starmer expressed
00:14this morning that is why these horrendous, horrendous crimes got covered up in the first
00:20place. It is not far right to raise these issues. It's a matter of really important
00:25public concern. We owe it to the victims to get to the bottom of this and I'm really disappointed
00:29and angered by what Keir Starmer tried to do this morning by smearing people who are
00:34raising these important issues. Well I said myself on broadcast TV just yesterday that
00:40those comments were wrong but it is of course reasonable for people to raise the issue of
00:45organised gang rape of vulnerable young girls. It was covered up by public authorities, local
00:51councils, police ignored it, the CPS including during Keir Starmer's time as Director of
00:56Public Prosecutions failed these young victims and it's right that it's raised. Look I think
01:01the comments made were wrong. I absolutely oppose the intimidation of any Member of Parliament.
01:07I said that yesterday, I'll say it again today. But let's keep in mind that what we're here
01:11to do is stand up for these vulnerable young girls who are systematically raped and abused
01:16over many, many years and public authorities didn't investigate it and in some cases covered
01:20it up. I think the way he phrased his attacks on some people in recent days is not right.
01:26I've said that yesterday, I've said it again today. But we can't have public discussion
01:31about this issue shut down by people who are alleging that discussing it is far right.
01:36It is not far right to stand up for young vulnerable girls who are systematically raped
01:41over many, many years.