Bless you Phil. Thank you x

It is easy…tempting indeed…to be distracted by the sound & fury of the battle between two powerful men – the billionaire who owns X and has turned it into a megaphone and the British Prime Minister. However, this story is much more important than a clash between Elon Musk and Keir Starmer. It is about how to protect girls and young women from terrible sexual abuse. For more than 10 years official reports and police investigations have revealed that some have covered up and others have played down the fact that gangs of men - mainly but not exclusively of Pakistani origin - have targeted, groomed, raped and tortured mainly white girls. Musk has attacked and abused the PM and his safeguarding minister Jess Philips for refusing to agree to a new inquiry into what really happened. The Conservatives and Reform UK have echoed his call if not his language (which, the former head of counter terrorism, has warned risks inciting violence). Now the one woman who had not commented when so many others had has broken our silence. Professor Alexis Jay - who chaired the Independent Inquiry into child sexual abuse which reported more than two years ago and who led the investigation into the cover-up of masss rape in Rotherham more than a decade ago - has told me on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme there is no need for a new inquiry. What’s more she argues that it would get in the way of what needs to be done – implementing the findings of her report which was published more than two years ago. Professor Jay refuses to comment on the words used by Musk or, indeed, Farage or the shadow Justice secretary – the Conservative Robert Jenrick who has argued that what is to blame is mass migration of millions of people with what he calls "alien cultures". However, she had a clear message for them all. Those who "politicise child sexual abuse" are ignoring the needs of the victims she says. In another interview on the Today Programme I asked Robert Jenrick whether he accepted the Conservatives in government for 14 years had failed to do enough to tackle a problem that was first highlighted more than a decade ago. Why, I asked him, had Tory ministers failed to implement the recommendations of the inquiry? Why had they refused calls for a second wider national inquiry when they had the power to set one up. I asked him whether he’d ever raise these issues as a minister in the Home Office and pointed out that there was no mention in the parliamentary record Hansard of him ever raising the subject before Elon Musk did. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, I asked Jenrisk whether he now wanted to stop immigration from those "alien cultures" he condemns despite the fact that immigration from, say, Pakistan has recorded since Brexit and that many of Pakistani heritage have and are serving this country proudly - not least the former Home Secretary Sajid Javid and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. You can hear his answers by listening back to the Today programme on @bbcsounds at 8.10 (that's 2 hours & 10 minutes into the programme) and Professor Jay's at 7.30ish (one hour & 30 minutes into the programme)Jenrick, like Messrs Farage and Musk insists that much more is now known about what happened in the past and much more needs to be known about what might be happening now right across the country. So they argue that there is a case for that second enquiry. Jay argues that that would distract from implementing the protections that are needed now and which the Home Secretary hastily announced last night - making it an offence to know about but not report or to actively cover up child sex abuse and improving the collection of the data on who the offenders really are.Having spent years investigating these crimes - unlike some who read a few tweets before firing off their own ill informed opinions - she is clear about two things. Firstly, the scandals exposed in Rotherham and Oldham - the covering up of mass child abuse - has undoubtedly happened elsewhere any may still be happening now. Secondly, child sexual abuse is not limited to any one group in society as repeated scandals have revealed. I've written this long post to put into context the clips of the interviews I'm also posting which I know will be taken out of context by some who want to abuse their political opponents more than they want to stop the abuse of young girls

‘I thought: ‘I’ve just got to keep the motor chugging on’’ ❓ How can we deal with loss? Actor Anna Maxwell Martin’s husband, Roger Michell, died in 2021. She told @bbcnuala she was in a state of shock after his death, & discussed how she came to terms with that grief ⬇️

Hammie had a lot to say about technique 😉

Hammie showing Harvey how to do his warm-up exercises ahead of this morning’s #yorkshiremarathon whilst twin looks on! Family support hey! Wishing all runners a great event. Harry loved this run! (Ignore the weather forecast… 🫣) #marathon

If you’re reading this, it means I have died. But do not cry for me. I have lived my life on my own terms, the way I have wanted to. I joined X because I needed an outlet, what I got was so much more. You made me feel validated in my feelings and much less alone. Thank you ❤️

Watch this FREE session on Early Years TV earlyyears.tv/episode/preeti… #PreetiPatel #Montessori #EarlyYears #PlayBasedLearning #ChildDevelopment

Experience-Based Route for Early Years Practitioners Consultation link is below. Make sure you have your say. consult.education.gov.uk/ear… consult.education.gov.uk/ear…

It was one of those moments where a light bulb came on for me. For that is exactly what is happening with our young people. They are showing us in many ways that they are unhappy. There is something wrong. Attendance is down, disruptive behaviour is up.4/

After yesterday, I'm done hiding as a victim. I was raped & physically abused by a Tory MP. I tried to report it in 2020,the Chief Whip told me to get over it & did nothing. I have medical records,months of rape counselling notes, my parents' first hand evidence. He is still a MP

In awe of this beautiful mark making from a reception child. Independent small group - circles. #eyfs

And here he is. 3 hrs 18 minutes. What an amazing young man. We are all so proud, in awe, inspired!! 🤩 xx #marathon #yorkmarathon @runforall @RunYorkshire @GrationHarvey

Go girl! Xx

A chip off the old block… with running shoes! Our son, Harvey has set himself a challenge to fundraise for @myelomauk , to help the brains working on treatments for this bone cancer which Harry had … quite incredible my boy. Please support him if you can. We love you xx

I joined a school and often the Head would quietly come in and stand at the back whilst I carried on my lesson. One day the school secretary said she had noticed it and that the Head didn't go into other classrooms as she did with me. I asked the Head the reason why she came in

Our boys continue to amaze and look after their father’s memory. @GrationHarvey @HarrisonGration xx

Women far and wide will be sending you support and love for your experience Susie Stevens. Heart-wrenching read in @thetimes We need to help change this… #hysterectomyhelp