Suella Braverman Claims Britain's Equality Laws Have Led to Leniency for Muslim Grooming Gangs

Suella Braverman, who previously served as home secretary, has expressed her belief that the equality laws in Britain have led to a more lenient approach toward members of Muslim grooming gangs by institutions such as councils and police. During her appearance on GB News, she described an "institutional cowardice" surrounding the rape scandal, asserting that professionals often choose to overlook severe exploitation out of fear of being labeled as racist. Braverman's comments followed remarks from Robert Jenrick, who noted a concerning attitude towards women among certain racial groups.

When asked by presenter Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg about the impact of equality laws regarding protected characteristics—such as gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity—on the impartial treatment of individuals, Braverman acknowledged the pressure exerted on authorities. She stated that these laws, grounded in international and European rights frameworks, have the unintended consequence of dividing communities by physical traits and compelling local governments to favor minority groups unfairly. This, she believes, contributes to a reluctance to confront injustices when the perpetrators are from minority ethnic backgrounds, whom professionals may fear challenging.

Braverman also suggested that the values of Britain's Judeo-Christian heritage, which safeguard essential liberties, are being compromised by incoming migrants who may not share these principles. She lamented that such individuals often regard women as commodities, contrasting their views with the British values of respect and tolerance. Furthermore, she asserted that the grooming gang issue highlights the failures of multiculturalism, urging the nation to reflect on its identity and the values that have historically strengthened it.

In the wake of her comments, the Liberal Democrats demanded action against Robert Jenrick for his statements, which they deemed divisive. Jenrick pointed out the statistical over-representation of Pakistani men among grooming gang offenders, suggesting that many have specifically targeted white, working-class girls, whom they perceived as inferior. Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper criticized Jenrick for using the tragedy for political gain and called for his dismissal from his role as Shadow Justice Secretary.