London stands on the precipice of potentially being exposed as the 'last great grooming scandal to be uncovered,' a stark warning issued by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Speaking yesterday, Farage accused London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan of systematically failing victims by denying the very existence of grooming gangs within the capital. This accusation comes amidst revelations that the Metropolitan Police are now committed to reviewing thousands of child sexual abuse cases spanning 15 years, following the Baroness Casey grooming review published in June. Farage further called for parliamentary control over the crisis-ridden national inquiry into child sexual abuse, a panel that has seen multiple victims and candidates withdraw due to concerns it was 'rigged.'

Sir Sadiq Khan has been repeatedly criticized for stonewalling questions regarding grooming gangs, often diverting the conversation to 'county lines' gangs. However, Farage and survivor Ellie Reynolds unequivocally state that grooming is indeed rampant in London, a reality made more challenging to identify due to the city's vast size and diverse communities. Reynolds, a grooming gang survivor who quit the national inquiry panel, lambasted Khan as a 'liar' and demanded his resignation for 'covering up a mass failing in London,' emphasizing the immense trauma victims face from both abuse and the subsequent institutional failures.

The harrowing testimony of Sasha, a 16-year-old from Rotherham, underscores the reach and brutality of these gangs, even into London. Trafficked from Rotherham after years of abuse by over 100 men, Sasha was brought to London, where she endured further repeated rapes and depraved acts by men of Pakistani heritage, some speaking with London accents. Her ordeal, involving drugs and potential exploitation as 'human chattel,' highlights a disturbing pattern. GB News reporter Charlie Peters, who has investigated grooming gangs extensively, asserts that the same pattern of abuse seen in northern towns like Rotherham and Rochdale is being replicated in London, facilitated by a combination of naivety and inaction from the Metropolitan Police and politicians.

The political landscape surrounding this issue is fraught with denial. London's mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, consistently evaded questions from Conservative opponent Susan Hall regarding rape gangs in the capital. He repeatedly sought clarification on the term 'grooming gangs' and attempted to shift focus to county lines, despite evidence, including four HM Inspectorate of Constabulary reports between 2016 and 2025 detailing grooming in London. These reports, citing girls as young as 13 being drugged, plied with alcohol, and raped by gangs of men, were reportedly read by Khan himself. Furthermore, a Tory proposal in February to budget £4.5 million for an independent inquiry into child exploitation in London was voted down by Labour, Green, Liberal Democrat, and 'independent' members of the London Assembly.

A social worker from an east London borough corroborated the widespread nature of the problem, revealing an inundation of cases and a diverse demographic of both victims and culprits. The worker highlighted systemic failures, including social services being ill-equipped and confidentiality laws preventing intervention, even when pregnant teenage girls are victims. In one ongoing case, a 15-year-old Muslim girl, exploited by over 100 men, could not have her parents informed of her pregnancy due to the risk of 'honour-based violence,' a loophole exploit by groomers. Farage emphasized a 'huge racial and ethnic' dimension, advocating for a 'laser focus' on Pakistani grooming gangs.

The GB News national audit of grooming gang convictions revealed over 50 affected towns and cities, with extensive trafficking links connecting South Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and London. The unspeakable acts of gangs, such as the Oxford-based Mohammed Karrar group, where one victim was forced into an illegal abortion and trafficked to London for sex, illustrate the severity. Victims from Bradford were also trafficked to London, noting that their abusers considered London clients more important. Despite these horror stories and the widespread evidence, only a handful of men have been jailed for their roles in London's grooming gangs. Even Sasha, who saw seven men jailed for over 100 years in Sheffield, acknowledges that many of her London abusers remain at large, protected by a prevailing 'culture of denial' within the political class.