For journalists and everyone who cares about journalism

The commentators 28-08-14

...on the Rotherham scandal

The ideologues of multiculturalism, clinging to their vision of harmonious diversity, might not like to face up to the reality, but without doubt the ethnicity of the abusers was a central factor in the reluctance of the State to tackle their vile activities. The report produced by Professor Alexis Jay, the distinguished former inspector of social work in Scotland, makes that unequivocally clear..
- Manzoor Moghal, Daily Mail

Political correctness is a vile, perverted ideology which is wrecking our society and ruining the lives of the innocent. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the shocking child abuse scandal in Rotherham. The authorities in Rotherham failed to act because the race-fixated dogma of anti-discrimination meant that they had completely lost their moral bearings and every last vestige of compassion.
- Leo McKinstrey, Daily Express

If South Yorkshire Police can mount a raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s home in pursuit of evidence linked to a single allegation of child sex abuse 30 years ago, why were South Yorkshire Police incapable of pursuing multiple allegations against multiple men who raped 1,400 children over 16 years? Fear of appearing racist trumped fears of more children being abused.
- Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph

The Right can make it only about race. She has no problem in calling certain attitudes of certain Muslims appalling. She just can't see them in isolation from class and gender. The macho environment in which the girls were not listened to, or even seen as children, is part of a continuum of thought in which girls, once deemed sexually active, even if it is against their will, are seen as damaged goods. Thus they can be bought and sold in a market that has made it apparent it no longer considers them worth protecting. Where is the profit in that?
- Suzanne Moore, The Guardian

Rotherham has a lot to answer for, but it is not alone in harbouring abusers who continue to commit crimes today. A review ordered by Theresa May into historic child sex abuse must be widened into a full public inquiry or royal commission into abuse, past and present.
- Jane Merrick, Independent

The ethnicity of the guilty men is a central feature of the abuse, and council officials were certainly inhibited because of it... but this was a regime unwilling to confront the problem at all - regardless of who was behind it. This was a dysfunctional council that operated in a macho atmosphere of bullying and sexism. Women were lesser beings and discussion of subjects such as sex abuse was almost impossible.
This isn't about political correctness, it's about incompetence