Rotherham, where at least thousands of white girls were raped and sexually abused by mostly Pakistani men in one of the worst grooming gang scandals in the UK, is set to be the country’s inaugural “Children’s Capital of Culture” in 2025.
Between 1997 and 2013, at least 1,400 young white girls were groomed, sexually abused, and raped in Rotherham, in what was described at the time as “one of the biggest child protection scandals in history.”
The Jay Report and the Casey Report found systemic failures to investigate the crimes, with council staff declaring that they had specifically been ordered not to discuss the race of the offenders, along with the silencing of any whistleblowers. Similar scandals were unveiled in Rochdale, Telford, Oldham, and a number of other towns.
This isn't a historical problem; this is an ongoing issue in Rotherham and other places across the UK.
At least four sitting councillors were complicit in cover-ups. The swamp needs draining. Justice must be served.https://t.co/FlaCGuXMgd
— Fr Calvin Robinson (@calvinrobinson) August 21, 2022
Despite this, Rotherham was chosen to be the UK’s first “Children’s Capital of Culture” for 2025. As described on the official website, the town will have “365 extraordinary days… of imagination, creativity and community. Packed with music and magic. Dance and drama. Films and food. Exhibitions and events. And much, much more.”
The town will be provided at least £1.8 million from the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund to pay for the year-long event, along with another £76,100 from National Lottery grants, and £13,600 from the borough council.
Dave Sheppard, a Rotherham town councillor, said that they were “making improvements that will help change the perception” of the town with the implementation of the programme.
Julie Dalton, who sits on the board of the Children’s Capital of Culture programme, argued that it was “the boldest demonstration of Rotherham’s commitment to empowering children and young people to have a voice and play an active role in its future.”
The announcement came as a shock to many, including former UKIP and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who slammed the decision as a “sick and offensive joke,” referencing a 1973 news article involving a girl who had been groomed and raped, but was portrayed as a child prostitute. “That’s how long this has been going on for,” he said.
Rotherham is to be named “Children's Capital of Culture”.
What a sick and offensive joke.
This article is from 1973… that's how long this has been going on for. pic.twitter.com/eWG8LBkKK0
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) August 21, 2022
From 2001 the BBC's take on child rape gangs in Rotherham, "some as young as 12."
"Child prostitution crisis." pic.twitter.com/hnH59lelnO
— David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) August 21, 2022
GB News commentator Dominique Samuels was also appalled, and said that the designation of Rotherham felt like a “deliberate choice.”
“There is NO WAY someone genuinely woke up and thought ‘yes, Rotherham, the place where thousands of little girls have been raped. Let’s make this their capital of culture!'” Samuels said. “You might as well erect a banner screaming ‘Paedophiles Welcome Here’.”
You might as well erect a banner screaming ‘Paedophiles Welcome Here’ 🤮
— Dominique Samuels (@Dominiquetaegon) August 22, 2022
— RAW EGG NATIONALIST (@Babygravy9) August 22, 2022
Grooming scandal town Rotherham to become the UK's first ever Children's Capital of Culture.
A tone deaf decision.
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) August 21, 2022
Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, told the Mail on Sunday that he would be “reviewing the award” of funding to Rotherham, which had been awarded to the town by the previous holder of the post, Michael Gove.
