Sarah Champion resigns from Labour shadow cabinet because of controversial column
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Friday August 18 2017
Sarah Champion, Labour MP, resigned from her post as Shadow Equalities Secretary following criticism of her controversial column in the Sun, the BBC reports.
“British Pakistani men ARE raping and exploiting white girls… and it’s time we faced up to it” was the title of Champion’s column, published on 10 August in the Sun.
In the column, Champion argued that fears of being labeled a ‘racist’ are hampering discussion and action against child sexual abuse. She also asserted that the majority of convictions for gang-related child sexual exploitation have been against British Pakistani men.
Following the publication of Champion’s piece, the Rotherham MP received a wave of criticism from colleagues in Parliament. Her fellow Labour MP Naz Shah said that Champion’s language was “irresponsible” and “set a dangerous precedent” in demonising an entire community.
Shah also noted that nearly 90 percent of child abusers are white men, but “we wouldn’t suggest that white people ‘are raping children’ and or use the whole community to describe the actions of a few criminals,” the Independent reports.
Champion initially claimed that her column had been altered by the Sun, but the newspaper has denied this claim.
Champion has subsequently apologised for her “extremely poor choice of words” and resigned from her position as shadow equalities secretary.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn stated: “I have accepted Sarah Champion’s resignation and thank her for her work in the shadow cabinet. I look forward to working together in the future.”