Greater Manchester town's name 'exploited by people who treat child rape as a political game'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Rochdale's MP says the town's name has been 'exploited' by people 'treating child rape as a political game.' The Prime Minister remains embroiled in a row with billionaire Elon Musk over calls for a national investigation into child sexual abuse.

Responding to questions about a slew of social media posts from the Tesla and X owner, who is one of US President-elect Donald Trump’s top aides, Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Musk and others of 'spreading lies and misinformation' adding they were 'not interested in victims, they are interested in themselves.' Tonight (Monday), Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended her decision not to launch an inquiry as she faced MPs in the Commons.

During the debate, Paul Waugh, who won the Rochdale seat from George Galloway in July's general election, said he believed some people had treated child rape as a 'political game' in recent days, rather than as an 'appalling crime.' Girls as young as 13 were horrifically abused in Rochdale between 2008 and 2010 by a members of child abuse ring that came to be known as part of the 'grooming gang' phenomenon. “In the last few days my hometown’s name, Rochdale, has been exploited by some people who treat child rape as a political game rather than as an appalling crime that should be dealt with" Mr Waugh said. “The horrific abuse of children by grooming gangs, many of them predominantly Pakistani heritage grooming gangs, was compounded by failures by my local council and by the local police.

All Rochdalians, whatever their background, want to see sex offenders prosecuted swiftly and punished harshly." Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who represents Oldham East and Saddleworth, told the Commons: “If it is the will of these victims of abuse in Oldham to