The BBC’s decision to give a platform to the home secretary, Suella Braverman, on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg was highly questionable. First, because she has been involved in an internal battle within the Conservative party as to who should represent the newly formed seat occasioned by boundary changes, on which party members will be voting on Wednesday night.
Second, because her completely unwarranted attack on Labour in relation to child sexual abuse could only date back many years to incidents which tragically did include Rochdale and Rotherham, but also Oxfordshire, which could hardly be claimed to involve “senior politicians in Labour-run areas”.
In fact, the politician who deserves every credit for taking on sexual exploitation rooted in extremely unpleasant cultural heritage is the former Labour MP for Keighley, Ann Cryer. And, of course, the present Labour MP for Rotherham, Sarah Champion. Braverman’s attempts to smear her opponents, to promote her own credentials and to attempt the impossible task of mounting the moral high ground are a disgrace.
David Blunkett
Labour, House of Lords
