Grooming gang survivor hits out at Labour peer accused of mocking national inquiry: ‘It’s disgusting’

Dan McDonald
Sun, 05 Apr 2026 02:17:13 +0000

A grooming gang survivor has demanded an apology from a Labour peer accused of making light of the national inquiry into the scandal.

Baroness Ayesha Hazarika made the comments during an episode of Times Radio’s Weekend Drivetime show, hosted by journalist Stig Abell.

In the exchange, which has since been shared widely on social media, Ms Hazarika can be heard saying: “I’m like an enabler, I’m a groomer, oh my God. Just because I’m Muslim, stop it, honestly.”

The host replied: “Don’t groom me, Ayesha,” to which she responds, “There will be an inquiry- a judge-led inquiry into me right now.”

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Ms Hazarika and Mr Abell can be heard laughing during the discussion.

Grooming gang survivor Ellie Reynolds, who was a victim of abuse in Barrow-in-Furness has now spoken out, demanding an apology from the Labour peer for her remarks.

Ms Reynolds’ ordeal started in 1996 when she was just 13-years-old and lasted for 5 years - during which she was kidnapped, held hostage and gang raped.

Speaking to Patrick Christys on GB News she said: “I think it's sick. I think it's disgusting. However, nothing really shocks me anymore when it comes to… people in a position of power.

“From my perspective, would they be laughing and mocking that if it was them or their daughter or their family member?

“I think there should be a genuine, heartfelt apology.”

This follows the launching of a three-year Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, which will conduct investigations in areas where there is evidence of previous failings.

In addition to the national inquiry, a number of local inquiries will also take place.

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Inquiry chair Baroness Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner, has said the investigation will not “flinch from uncomfortable truths” and not “shy away” from directly probing the cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds of the perpetrators.

She said: "Children across England and Wales were and are sexually abused and exploited. When they asked for help, they were too often disbelieved, dismissed, or blamed. That is the reality this inquiry exists to address.

"Victims and survivors have every right to ask whether this inquiry will be any different from those that came before. My answer is this: where we can, we will publish our findings as we go, not in a single report years from now. There will be no opportunity for institutions to quietly manage what we find.

"We will follow the evidence wherever it leads. We will not flinch from uncomfortable truths."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "The grooming gangs scandal is one of the darkest moments in our country's history, where the most vulnerable people were abused and exploited at the hands of evil child rapists.

"The chair and I have agreed that the Inquiry will be laser-focused on grooming gangs and will explicitly examine the role of ethnicity, religion and culture of the offenders and in the response of institutions.

"There will be no hiding place for the predatory monsters who committed these vile crimes."

The inquiry will formally begin on April 13 and will have a budget of £65million.

GB News has reached out to Baroness Hazarika, Stig Abell, and Times Radio for comment.