Joani Reid, the Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, has publicly detailed how she was branded a 'racist' by the Scottish National Party for campaigning to expose grooming gangs operating in Scotland. Reid asserts that the Nationalists immediately resorted to smear tactics, subjecting her to a barrage of 'toxic' abuse when she first began highlighting the plight of vulnerable girls exploited by gangs predominantly composed of Asian men.
Political Backlash and Allegations of Misogyny
Reid claims the SNP's strategy of vilifying those who spotlight the scandal can be directly attributed to its leader, John Swinney. She recounted, 'When I first started raising grooming gangs in Scotland, the SNP went straight for the smear, painting me as far-right, racist, unpatriotic and anti-Scottish. Apparently grooming gangs are an English problem. Apparently Scotland is different, and to suggest otherwise was somehow a betrayal of the nation.'
The MP described facing a coordinated 'pile-on' with threats and abuse, escalating to what she termed 'the full mob – aggressive, toxic and openly misogynistic.' Reid emphasized, 'A culture that’s been allowed to thrive inside the SNP.' She directly implicated Swinney, stating, 'John Swinney likes to present himself as a statesman above it all, but this happens on his watch, in his party, to protect his government’s record. He owns every bit of it.'
Victims' Harrowing Stories Force Government U-Turn
Following months of pressure from victims, professionals, and politicians, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth announced last week that a public inquiry will be conducted into the grooming gangs scandal. This decision came after harrowing accounts of abuse emerged, including the case of Holly Alex, who was targeted from age 13 at an Edinburgh care home by Asian men who supplied her with drugs and alcohol before raping her.
Investigations revealed that groomers were smuggling mobile phones into residential homes to contact vulnerable children, with staff feeling powerless to intervene. Despite repeated demands, the Scottish Government had previously rejected calls for an inquiry, citing insufficient evidence.
Inquiry Leadership and Campaigner Reactions
The public inquiry will be chaired by Professor Alex Jay, a renowned expert who previously investigated group-based sexual exploitation in Rotherham. Campaigners, survivors, and parliamentarians have welcomed the probe as a critical step toward accountability and justice.
Reid remains defiant, declaring, 'I will not be intimidated. Not by the smears, not by the mob, not by any of it. I’m not raising this for sympathy or praise. I’m raising it because they need to be held to account and shamed. Every time they reach for abuse rather than answers, they’re telling you exactly why vulnerable girls weren’t protected in the first place.'
The SNP has declined to comment on these allegations, leaving the political fallout unresolved as the inquiry prepares to uncover the full extent of the grooming gangs' operations in Scotland.
