When I heard that Bradford and Keighley would be among the first places investigated by the new independent inquiry into grooming gangs, my first thought was simple: this is long overdue.
Like many people, I know this is not an easy subject to talk about. It brings back painful memories, divides opinion and quickly becomes political. But if the last 20 years have taught us anything, it is this: avoiding difficult conversations never protects children.
That is why I welcome this inquiry.
Not because I want Bradford or Keighley back in the national headlines for the wrong reasons, but because victims deserve the truth, and future generations deserve to be better protected.
For too long, this issue has been buried beneath politics, blame and fear. Every time it is raised, people seem to take sides before they even listen to the facts. Some use these terrible crimes to condemn entire communities. Others avoid the subject because they worry about fuelling racism or damaging community relations.
Neither approach helps the victims.
The first people we should think about are the children who were abused. Statutory services and the wider community should have protected them. Instead, many were ignored, dismissed or simply not believed.
That should concern every one of us.
Having lived and worked in Bradford and Keighley for most of my life, I know these communities well. I have seen the kindness of local people, the dedication of volunteers and the commitment of faith groups, youth organisations and community leaders who work every day to make our neighbourhoods better places to live.
I also understand why many people feel anxious whenever this issue returns to the headlines. They worry that the actions of a few offenders will once again be used to stereotype an entire community.
The overwhelming majority of people are decent, hardworking people who are just as horrified by child abuse as everyone else. They want offenders brought to justice and children kept safe.
If public bodies made mistakes, those mistakes must be acknowledged. If chances to stop the abuse were missed, we need to know why. If agencies failed to work together, or if people stayed silent because they were worried about offending, those questions must also be answered.
The truth should never be feared. In fact, it is only by facing the truth that trust can be rebuilt.
What saddens me most is the way this issue has too often become a political battleground. Politicians blame each other, also target certain communities, social media fills with anger, and communities become more divided.
Meanwhile, the voices that matter most, the victims, are drowned out.
This inquiry must not become another political exercise. It must follow the evidence wherever it leads, without fear or favour. That is the only way the public will have confidence in its findings.
I also hope it reminds every community that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Child sexual abuse is not confined to one town, one religion or one ethnic group. It happens across Britain in many different forms. Every organisation that works with children should constantly ask whether enough is being done to keep them safe.
Mosques, churches, temples, schools, sports clubs, youth organisations and charities all have a role to play. Protecting children is not someone else’s responsibility. It belongs to all of us.
I care deeply about Bradford and Keighley. This is where I have lived, worked and raised my family. I have spent decades encouraging people from different backgrounds to work together, and I know how much good happens here every single day.
But loving your community does not mean pretending it has no problems.
Real pride comes from facing difficult truths, learning from them and becoming stronger because of them.
Communities do not become stronger by hiding their mistakes. They become stronger by dealing with them honestly.
Above all, my thoughts are with the survivors. Many have waited years to be heard. Some were ignored. Some were blamed. Others suffered in silence because they believed nobody would listen.
The courage it takes to speak out should never be underestimated. They deserve our respect. They deserve to be believed. And they deserve justice.
This inquiry cannot undo the pain they have endured or give them back the childhoods they lost. But it can help ensure that future generations of children are better protected.
That alone makes it worthwhile.
My hope is that everyone involved approaches this inquiry with honesty, fairness and compassion. Where failures are found, there must be accountability. Where lessons have been learned, they should be recognised. And where more needs to change, we should have the courage to make those changes.
In the end, this inquiry should not be about any location. It should not be about politics or religion. It should be about children. Every child deserves to grow up safe. Every victim deserves justice. And every one of us has a responsibility to make sure these failures are never repeated.
