Critics argue that the Labour-supported inquiry failed to thoroughly investigate grooming gangs, raising concerns about accountability and transparency.
Rotherham: So, there’s been a lot of chatter about this child sex abuse inquiry that Labour backed. People are saying it didn’t really dig deep into the grooming gangs, which is pretty concerning.
The Government’s been feeling the heat to kick off a proper inquiry into this whole mess. They keep pointing to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and saying it’s all been covered. But, honestly, many think that’s just not enough.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, was on TV again, brushing off calls for a new inquiry. He insists the IICSA already tackled the issue back in 2022. But here’s the kicker: while they did touch on child exploitation, the focus on grooming gangs was super limited.
Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, is pushing hard for a national inquiry. He thinks the Government is scared of what might come out if they dig deeper. He pointed out that the IICSA only looked at a handful of towns, leaving out many that were hit hard by these scandals.
Philp’s not holding back, saying we need a full public inquiry to uncover the truth about police failures and possible cover-ups by local councils. He even mentioned that some Labour folks were pressured to keep quiet about the whole thing.
Things got heated last week when Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, turned down a request from Oldham Council for a public inquiry. The Government said they’d support a local inquiry instead, but that didn’t sit well with everyone.
Elon Musk even jumped into the fray, calling Phillips’ decision “disgraceful” and suggesting she should be jailed. Streeting defended her, saying it was unfair to attack someone who’s dedicated her life to helping victims.
Calls for a new inquiry are growing louder, especially one where witnesses would have to testify under oath. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson weighed in, saying we can’t keep letting kids down. They deserve protection, and it’s heartbreaking to see the abuse happening.
Laura Farris, a former Home Office minister, also chimed in, saying the IICSA report was too broad and didn’t focus enough on the ongoing grooming gang issues. She highlighted that this is a nationwide problem that’s still affecting communities.
Even a grassroots Labour group, Blue Labour, is calling for a fresh inquiry, saying it’s time to face the truth about grooming and the impact of multiculturalism. They’re pushing for tougher sentencing and a rethink of immigration policies.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said he’s open to taking further action at a national level. It seems like this issue isn’t going away anytime soon, and people are demanding accountability.
