Labour shadow minister Sarah Champion has quit the party’s front bench after criticism over a newspaper article she wrote about grooming gangs.
The Rotherham MP wrote in the Sun on Friday that “Britain has a problem with British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls”.
She has now apologised for her “extremely poor choice of words” and quit as shadow equalities minister.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had accepted her resignation.
Ms Champion’s article was written after 17 men were convicted of forcing girls in Newcastle to have sex.
The men, who were mostly British-born, were from Iraqi, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian and Turkish communities.
‘Dangerous precedent’
In interviews following the convictions, the Labour MP said such crimes involved “predominately Pakistani men” and said a fear of being called racist was hampering the authorities’ investigations.
She then wrote the Sun article, which also included the line: “These people are predators and the common denominator is their ethnic heritage.”
Among the article’s critics was fellow Labour MP Naz Shah, who said it was “irresponsible” and “setting a dangerous precedent”.
Following the backlash, Ms Champion sought to distance herself from the article, claiming it had been altered, something denied by the newspaper.
Announcing she was stepping down, Ms Champion said: “I apologise for the offence caused by the extremely poor choice of words in the Sun article on Friday.
“I am concerned that my continued position in the shadow cabinet would distract from the crucial issues around child protection which I have campaigned on my entire political career.
“It is therefore with regret that I tender my resignation as shadow secretary of state for women and equalities.”
Mr Corbyn said: “I have accepted Sarah Champion’s resignation and thank her for her work in the shadow cabinet….