The protection of women and girls from systemic abuse must outweigh the political melodrama triggered by the Epstein files fallout. The focus should be on survivors, not the political futures of government figureheads, writes STUC leader and Herald columnist Roz Foyer.

Violence against women and girls – the systematic rape and trafficking of children at the hands of wealthy, elitist men – is a much bigger concern than political melodrama.

There. I said it. Unsure why it was that difficult.

Reams of words have been dedicated to what the latest tranche of the Epstein files might mean for the political futures of Madelson, Starmer and all other high-ranking officials, mostly men, from governments across the world. There are of course legitimate questions about the clear, unequivocal failings of the Prime Minister and others in appointing someone like Mandelson back into a high-ranking position in government. But really? – I think we’re missing the point.

The question we need to be asking is how do we address the deep, systematic misogyny and corruption at the very top of our society that has been exposed so clearly by this scandal.

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As the valiant and collective efforts of the survivors of Epstein’s abuse continue to prise open, bit by bit, the floodgates that stand between us all and the........

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