Child sex trial sparks heated Question Time debate

CHAIRING the debate . . . presenter David Dimbleby and panel members Caroline Spelman and Chris Bryant

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OLDHAM was at the forefront of political debate as BBC TV show “Question Time” came to town.

Presenter David Dimbleby opened the show saying, “last week the voters spoke, yesterday we had the Queen’s speech and now it is the people of Oldham’s turn.”

Radclyffe School, Chadderton, was the venue for the weekly programme which dissects and discusses current affairs. The panel was made up of environment secretary and Conservative MP for Meriden, Caroline Spelman; shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant; Liberal Democrat peer Lord Matthew Oakeshott; Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge, Mary Beard and Daily Telegraph columnist Peter Oborne.

Tempers flared as members of the audience asked the panel for their thoughts on this week’s court case which saw nine Asian men from Oldham and Rochdale jailed for the horrendous sexual abuse of underage girls.

Peter Oborne said: “This is a shattering, disgusting and depraved case which shocked the nation, but it is important not to jump the gun.”

A female member of the audience said: “We need an open and honest debate about race without fear of being labelled racist. People are too frightened to open their mouth but if we are not honest, we are playing into the hands of the BNP. As a society we have to address race issues and stop being so politically correct.”


MP calls for debate on the abuse of young
A “thorough debate” has been called for in Parliament on the issue of child abuse, following the sex-trial convictions.

Speaking during business questions, Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield, said: “Does the Leader of the House share my view that the recent trial and conviction of nine men for child abuse should lead us immediately to have a thorough debate in this House on what on earth was going on.”

Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young replied: "I'm sure the whole House agrees about the seriousness of the offences which were revealed and the need to take action.”

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