Diane Abbott

Class and misogyny – not political correctness – explain Rotherham’s abuse scandal

From our UK edition

There seems to be a political consensus that the sexual abuse of more than 1,400 girls in Rotherham, revealed in the recent Jay report, was caused by ‘political correctness’. And there is no doubt that race played a role in the horrors perpetrated in the town. Plain-speaking Muslim commentators like Yasmin Alibhai-Brown have set out the issues. She said in the Independent: ‘I partly blame the families and communities. Too many Asian mothers spoil their boys, undervalue their girls and demean their daughters-in-law. Within some British Asian circles, the West is considered degenerate and immoral. So it is OK to take their girls and ruin them further. Some of the fiercest rows I have ever had have been with Asian women who hold these disgusting views.