Musk’s grooming onslaught shows politics needs a new playbook
Open Editor’s Digest for free
FT editor Rula Khalaf picks her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Let’s face it, this latest political frenzy over ganging scandals, the sudden censorious concern of politicians for a subset of rape victims – only those abused by men of Pakistani heritage – is beyond cynicism.
Conservative leaders, who failed to implement the recommendations of the last inquiry into child sexual abuse, are suddenly calling for a new one. The second runner-up in the Tory leadership blames abuse “Foreign Cultures” (Was it alien cultures when the perpetrators were in the Roman Catholic or Anglican Church?) UK reform MP demands inquiry into ‘why young white British girls are being raped by men of Pakistani heritage’ The intent is clear and fueled by competition Elon Musk’s ethno-nationalist sentiments.
It is a dream scandal for speculators. Either they secure their demand for a new national inquiry, after which they appear, or they can cover up.
We can see the lies in many of the claims. Grooming gangs preying on young girls in towns like Rotherham, Oldham and Telford have not been ignored. Far from being exposed by street thug Tommy Robinson revealed by The Times newspaper. you don’t get more mainstream than this.Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, actually was praised acting to secure convictions.
But once you get past the cynicism, here’s the thing. These atrocities did happen. The abuse was sickening and ongoing. the details are terrible. Ordinary people failed shockingly. A misguided sensitivity to the fact that most gangs are made up of men of Pakistani origin and a fear of appearing racist took priority over prosecuting the perpetrators. Equally significant was the disdain of the police and authorities for the victims, who they dismissed as inferior.
Another, more specific inquiry into grooming gangs is unclear. According to Starmer, “reasonable people” can disagree on this point. There have been many local inquiries, although it is not entirely correct to say that this aspect has been fully covered by Alexis J. with a large-scale survey.It is worth the view that it would be better to continue the implementation of his recommendations.
And yet even to state these points is to know that it will not work. The case against the investigation is a very hard sell. It is hard to believe that the government’s line will hold, though the data and: cases of white-collar offenders, There is no case where such investigations are limited to criminals of one ethnic group.
This outbreak also highlights something else: You can no longer conduct politics as it was. Musk’s direct and maniacal interventions on behalf of the hard right in Western nations, a form of Maga imperialism, plus the power of TikTok, and Meta’s retreat from fact-checking and moderation mark the latest stage in the destruction of the old rules. discourse. Musk has become particularly hostile towards Starmer following his arrests over social media posts that fueled the Southport riots.
The days of grand scorn or refuting arguments on mobile TV are no longer concentrated in the few media outlets that can be controlled. Social media and podcasts that shape the news agenda are out of control out. The fight is paced, extreme language, misinformation and relentlessly exaggerated with notes. The challenge for mainstream parties is that political success requires mastery of an environment that doesn’t lend itself to nuance, statistics, or technocratic minutia, making governance even more difficult.
This harsh terrain calls for almost instant recognition of issues that resonate more widely.
The mass of the country is not anti-immigrant. It is for control, integration and, above all, justice. Citizens will not tolerate soft-pedaling on deep evils. They expect common standards to be applied. The epithet “double Keir” is too dangerous for Starmer.
The latest failure has been the pace of change at the national level. Jay’s investigation lasted seven years and two more have passed since then.The data is still insufficient. A major proposal for a new criminal offense to fail to report abuse was not introduced The workers actedpost-skate. Citizens are rightfully disgusted, and they now have a way to make themselves heard without a filter.
This saga is a savage example of how Musk has taken online politics to its inevitable end. If mainstream leaders don’t want to go down the futile path of censorship, they need a new playbook.The digital landscape will mercilessly punish those who stay in analog mode.
English