Newslinks for Monday 16th June 2025

Labour’s U-turn to make grooming gang announcement

“Keir Starmer was in full retreat over grooming gangs last night as he called in ‘Britain’s FBI’ to investigate. The Prime Minister was scrambling to appear decisive after resisting action on the scandal for months. Sir Keir had accused those campaigning for a public inquiry into the rape and sexual abuse of thousands of girls by gangs of mainly Pakistani-heritage men of jumping on a ‘far-Right bandwagon’. But in a dramatic U-turn at the weekend, he finally admitted a national inquiry was needed. And last night, the Home Office announced an investigation by the National Crime Agency. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the elite agency would lead ‘a major nationwide operation to track down more perpetrators’. The moves come ahead of a devastating report released today by Whitehall troubleshooter Baroness Casey, which is expected to conclude that years of warnings about the abuse of white girls were ‘institutionally ignored for fear of racism’. Ministers are said to be concerned that the findings could trigger civil unrest in parts of the country unless they are seen to be acting decisively.” – Daily Mail

• Starmer accused of distraction tactics over grooming gangs – Daily Telegraph
• Over 800 grooming gang cases to be reinvestigated alongside national inquiry – The i
• Revealed: How Rochdale social services workers failed two teenage girls who were repeatedly raped by Asian men – as Tories renew call for new grooming gangs inquiry – Daily Mail
• Grooming inquiry ‘to oversee local investigations’ to avoid delays – The Times
• Labour to make huge grooming gangs announcement after U-turn – Daily Express
• Grooming gangs scandal timeline: What happened, what inquiries there were and how Starmer was involved – after Elon Musk’s accusations – Sky News
• Keir Starmer bows to pressure to launch new grooming gangs investigation – The Guardian

Comment:

• I uncovered the grooming gangs scandal 15 years ago – and was vilified by the Left. Now I’ve been entirely vindicated, but I fear this repugnant crime is still going on today – Sue Reid, Daily Mail
• Keir Starmer should never say never again – Trevor Phillips, The Times
• Starmer is facing the fallout of Labour’s blind eye to grooming gangs – Anne McElvoy, The i

> Today: Chris Philp: The Conservative party has led the calls for doing what is right, and Starmer has merely followed

UK-US ‘Special Relationship’ still being ironed out

“Britain faces paying more for US drugs as part of a deal to avoid future tariffs from Donald Trump. The NHS will review drug pricing to take into account the “concerns of the president”, according to documents released after a trade agreement was signed earlier this year. White House sources said it expected the NHS to pay higher prices for American drugs in an attempt to boost the interests of corporate America. A Westminster source said: “There’s an understanding that we would look at the drug pricing issue in the concerns of the president.” The disclosure is likely to increase concerns about American interference in the British health service, which has long been regarded as a flashpoint in trade talks.” – Daily Telegraph

• Keir Starmer refuses to say when his ‘landmark’ trade deal with Donald Trump will start – Daily Express
• Starmer has ‘no doubt’ Trump will back Aukus submarine deal – The Times
• With WW3 fears overshadowing the G7, Starmer and others are more scared of Trump – Daily Express
• European leaders clamor to be the G7’s Trump whisperer – Politico

Comment:

• Trump’s Soviet-style parades show he is turning the tide against himself – Eliot Wilson, The i
• Why it is Groundhog Day for Starmer with Trump at the G7 – David Maddox, The Independent

Israel and Iran attacks continue – where does it leave the UK and US?

“An Iranian missile has damaged the American embassy in Israel, according to reports this morning. Iran has launched early morning attacks on Tel Aviv and the northern city of Haifa as conflict between the two nations entered its fourth day of open warfare, killing at least five and injuring dozens. Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, said the embassy in Tel Aviv was damaged “from concussions of Iranian missile hits” near the building. “No US personnel were injured,” he added. Donald Trump had warned Iran not to strike US targets on Sunday, saying the “full strength and might” of America’s military could be used against the country. Concern over whether the US could be dragged further into the conflict has continued to grow as its forces in the Middle East help shield Israel from Iran’s missile barrage. Iranian state TV said the country fired at least 100 missiles at Israel overnight, signalling that it has no intention of yielding to international calls for de-escalation.” – Daily Telegraph

• Iran launches fresh air strikes on Israel as conflict enters fourth day – BBC News
• Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran’s supreme leader, US officials say – Reuters
• RAF jets on standby to defend Israel as Iran conflict escalates – The i
• Starmer resists recognising Palestinian state as unions’ demand deepens Labour split – The Independent
• Reeves warns that Israel-Iran conflict could raise cost of oil – The Times

Comment:

• The West should tighten the screws on Iran – The Times View
• There was only one answer to Iran’s nuke programme. Israel has delivered it – Hamish de Bretton Gordon, Daily Telegraph
• Real reason Israel had to launch pre-emptive strike against Iran – Col Richard Kemp, Daily Express

News in brief:

• Can Labour afford British involvement in Iran? – Henry Hill, Unherd
• Spending like there’s no tomorrow – Emmanuel Igwe, The Critic
• The quiet desperation of Macron’s Greenland visit – Gavin Mortimer, The Spectator
• A new force is stirring on the left – James Meadway, The New Statesman