Here’s a stark reality check: women and girls are still waiting for a strategy to protect them from violence, and it’s long overdue. During today’s Liaison Committee session, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced pointed questions about the government’s missing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy. Despite Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s recent media appearances hinting at its imminent release, Starmer couldn’t provide a clear timeline. His vague assurance of ‘very shortly in the future’ felt more like a stalling tactic than a firm commitment, especially when the strategy has been ‘due’ since the summer. But here’s where it gets controversial: while ministers discuss perpetrator programs, victim support services are being left in the lurch, with some even forced to shut down due to funding delays. Is this really prioritizing the right things?
Committee chair Karen Bradley didn’t hold back, expressing frustration that Mahmood had teased details of the strategy without delivering it. She highlighted the dire consequences of the delay, noting that three rape crisis centers had already closed. Starmer’s repeated insistence that the strategy would be released ‘as soon as possible’ rang hollow, especially as whispers of further funding cuts circulate within the sector. One insider revealed, ‘We’re deeply concerned that the government’s new approach sidelines the very services women and girls rely on.’ And this is the part most people miss: the shift in focus toward perpetrator programs, while important, risks overshadowing the immediate needs of survivors.
Bradley’s pointed question about the £53 million allocated for high-risk perpetrators, compared to the lack of funding for victim services, underscored a growing unease. ‘There’s a real disquiet in the sector that victims are being forgotten,’ she warned. Starmer’s response? ‘Victims are at the center of the strategy.’ But without concrete financial commitments, those words feel empty. When pressed, he promised to ‘look at the money commitments again,’ but is that enough?
This exchange reveals a deeper issue: Starmer’s confidence in his government’s approach may be blinding him to its flaws. While he touts his personal commitment to tackling VAWG, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Services are closing, funding is uncertain, and the strategy remains a mystery. Shouldn’t a leader’s commitment be measured by results, not just rhetoric? What do you think? Is the government’s focus on perpetrators coming at the expense of survivors? Share your thoughts in the comments.
