Reform UK’s Lee Anderson has reacted furiously after a Labour councillor claimed demands for a grooming gang inquiry were a “paedo conspiracy”.
The Labour councillor for North Tyneside took to X to condemn local Tories for “white nationalism” after they recently pushed for a motion backing a new child sexual exploitation inquiry.
In a now-deleted post, Councillor Tom Bailey fumed: “Just seen the agenda for next council meeting which our local Tories are trying to fill with paedo conspiracies and white nationalism.
“Frankly I’m done wasting my time with these people. This isn’t what this place stands for, people here would not want it given the time of day.”
The eruption came after North Tyneside Council published papers for a forthcoming meeting which showed the Tories pushing for a motion on grooming gangs amid national calls for a new focus on the scandal.
Lee Anderson has torn apart the Labour councillor’s claim (Image: Getty/Tom Bailey/X)
The motion called on the council to adopt the recommendations of the previous Jay review and back a national inquiry.
Mr Anderson condemned Mr Bailey’s post, labelling it as further proof Labour is intent on denying the scale and severity of the rape gang scandal.
He told the Daily Express: “Labour councillors continue to deny the scale and severity of the rape gang scandal, continuing to downplay and cover up the issue.
“True to form, Labour dismisses anyone who speaks out against these grooming gangs — primarily made up of individuals from Pakistani backgrounds — as ‘conspiracy theorists’ or ‘white nationalists’.
“Labour’s actions reveal their priorities: defending their narrative of multiculturalism at the expense of protecting Britain’s most vulnerable. This is a betrayal of the young girls and families who have suffered in return for votes.
Tom Bailey’s incendiary post on X, now deleted (Image: X)
“Politicians like Tom Bailey embody what’s wrong with UK politics — putting the interests of Pakistani rape gangs above the safety and wellbeing of our children.
“People like this are the reason we don’t have an inquiry into grooming gangs.”
A Labour spokesman insisted that Mr Bailey’s post “does not reflect the position of the North Tyneside Labour Group”.
The spokesman added: “Child sexual abuse and violence are the most heinous of crimes and its perpetrators must be punished to the full extent of the law, and the victims must be protected and supported.
“Now is the time for action and delivery. This Labour Government will act at pace to implement the Jay recommendations to protect young girls from horrific sexual abuse.
“We will protect women and girls where the Tories failed.”
