A Labour member of the House of Lords is facing demands for investigation and apology after making light of Britain’s grooming gang scandal during a radio programme, with complaints submitted to Ofcom over remarks critics characterised as “disgraceful.”
Baroness Ayesha Hazarika sparked outrage during Sunday’s Times Radio Weekend Drivetime show she was co-hosting with journalist Stig Abell when a 24-second exchange descended into laughter-filled banter about grooming—a topic at the heart of one of Britain’s most serious criminal justice failures.
The exchange began when Baroness Hazarika declared “I’m an enabler,” prompting Mr Abell to respond: “Yeah, you are. A groomer!” The Labour peer replied: “A groomer! Oh my god. Just because I’m Muslim. Stop it.”
Mr Abell continued: “Don’t groom me! Don’t groom me, Ayesha,” with Baroness Hazarika adding: “There will be an inquiry, a judge-led inquiry into me right now.” Both presenters were audibly laughing throughout.
Social media erupted with condemnation following the broadcast. Freedom of Abuse, a community interest company addressing sexual and domestic violence, led criticism alongside individual complainants who lodged formal Ofcom objections.
One listener sharing the recording stated: “It’s awful that these presenters see the Pakistani rape gangs, one of the biggest scandals in Britain, as something to mock. If the races were reversed, Labour Peer Ayesha Hazarika wouldn’t dare laugh about it.”
Another questioned: “Why is she making light of an extremely serious inquiry?” Multiple commenters branded the exchange a “disgrace” whilst demanding Times Radio investigate and issue apologies.
The controversy arrives as Britain’s grooming gang inquiry formally commenced 31 March following Baroness Anne Longfield’s finalisation of terms of reference after consulting survivors. The statutory independent investigation will examine whether ethnicity, culture or religion influenced both offending patterns and institutional responses to abuse networks that operated across Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford, Oxford and Oldham for decades.
Organised networks of predominantly Pakistani-heritage men sexually exploited vulnerable young girls and women whilst police, local authorities and social services repeatedly failed to intervene—in some instances from fear of being labelled racist, according to the 2014 Rotherham inquiry.
Baroness Casey’s June 2025 national audit concluded systemic failures and institutional paralysis had enabled the criminal enterprises to flourish, prompting the Government to establish the current three-year investigation with a £65 million budget concluding no later than March 2029.
The inquiry possesses powers compelling witnesses and documents, with any professional wrongdoing evidence referred to Operation Beaconport—the national policing operation reviewing hundreds of previously closed investigations. Findings will be published progressively rather than withheld until final reporting.
Oldham has been confirmed amongst the first locations receiving dedicated local probes, with terms being laid before Parliament on 13 April.
Baroness Hazarika, who finished runner-up in Channel 4’s 2003 “So You Think You’re Funny” stand-up competition, has not responded publicly to the backlash despite critics arguing comedic background does not excuse trivialising child sexual exploitation scandals.
