Jeremy Corbyn 'wrong to sack shadow minister Sarah Champion for claiming UK has problem with Pakistani grooming gangs'

A cabinet minister today condemned Jeremy Corbyn for allegedly “sacking” a Labour frontbencher over her claim the country had a problem with British Pakistani men raping white girls.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid said there must be an “honest open debate” about child abuse and that racial motivation in cases must be addressed.

MP Sarah Champion, a long-standing anti-child abuse campaigner, quit after saying Britain has a problem with “British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls” in a column for The Sun. There is widespread speculation she was encouraged to stand down. Some critics have said the Labour MP for Rotherham has been “silenced”.

Mr Javid, who was born in Rochdale to Pakistani parents, posted on Twitter: “Corbyn wrong to sack Sarah Champion. We need an honest open debate on child sexual exploitation, including racial motivation.”

Today key Corbyn ally Yasmin Qureshi said in a radio interview that any accusations that British Pakistani men have a problem with child abuse are “completely wrong”.