Sadiq Khan faces scrutiny over claims of grooming gangs in London amid political tensions
London: So, there’s been a bit of a showdown at City Hall. Mayor Sadiq Khan is under fire for dodging questions about whether there are grooming gangs in the city.
His rival, Susan Hall, really pressed him during Mayor’s Question Time. She asked him multiple times if these gangs are operating in London, but he kept asking her to clarify what she meant.
Khan mentioned that young people are being groomed by County Lines drug gangs, but Hall was talking about something different—specifically, the kind of gangs that exploit young girls for sex, like those in Rotherham and Bradford.
It’s a bit murky right now whether London has a real issue with grooming gangs. Some reports say there are a couple in the capital, but it’s not clear how serious it is.
During the heated exchange, Hall pointed out that London might lose over a thousand police officers due to funding cuts. She then circled back to the grooming gangs, asking Khan directly how many there are in London.
Khan responded that the situation in London is different, but Hall was adamant. She wanted a straightforward answer: do these gangs exist in London or not?
It was a back-and-forth that seemed to go in circles. Hall kept trying to make her point clear, while Khan kept asking for clarification. It felt like they were speaking different languages at times!
Hall emphasized that the public deserves answers, not a mayor who plays games. She’s frustrated and wants Khan to take the issue seriously.
In the end, it’s clear that this topic is a hot-button issue, and people are concerned about the safety of young women in the city. The pressure is on Khan to provide some clarity.
