“American and British author Bonnie Greer thinks the UK habit of calling grown women “girls” is strange and irritating. But MP Ann Widdecombe holds no truck with efforts to stamp out its use.” (BBC)
We’re talking about a country that thinks ‘glamour model’ (i.e. showing your boobs for money) is an acceptable career aspiration. I don’t think the common use of ‘girl’ to mean ‘woman’ is a coincidence.