
Blog | 15 January 2025
Survivors Are Not Political Pawns
Survivors Deserve Support, Not Political Agendas
Last week, social media was ablaze with prominent and influential men embroiling themselves in UK politics. Tommy Robinson, Elon Musk, and misogynist poster boy Andrew Tate —figures notorious for their harmful rhetoric and behaviour—took to social platforms to criticise the UK Labour government’s handling of child grooming gangs in Oldham.
To the untrained eye, it may seem like these individuals are advocating for survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). However, their sudden interest in the topic feels convenient as well as disingenuous and hypocritical, to say the least. All three have faced accusations of promoting harmful ideologies and/or engaging in abusive behaviour that runs counter to the values of justice, accountability, and survivor support needed to advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Their involvement reeks of opportunism, using the pain of survivors to score political points and bolster their influence in right-wing circles.
“Funding for services, trauma-informed support, and survivors’ pursuit of healing must remain free from ideological interference.”
We are deeply saddened to see survivors of CSA caught in the crossfire of political and media debates designed to serve specific agendas. Survivors’ stories and experiences should never be weaponised to advance ideological battles or distract from meaningful conversations needed to confront the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Child sexual abuse is a grave issue that requires thoughtful, sustained action. Survivors deserve the full attention of governments and institutions, not performative outrage or politically motivated posturing. Funding for services, trauma-informed support, and survivors’ pursuit of healing must remain free from ideological interference. Real change happens when we centre survivors’ needs, amplify their voices, and address the root causes of abuse without bias or spectacle.
We recognise that seeing CSA reduced to a political talking point can be deeply triggering for many survivors. To those who feel re-traumatised or overlooked by these debates, we want you to know that we see you, believe you and stand with you. Your experiences matter, and your healing and justice are what truly deserve the world’s focus.
At Survivors’ Network, we remain committed to supporting survivors with compassion and dignity.