INDEPENDENT | Published January 7, 2025
Labour government facing pressure over its response to grooming gangs
Sir Keir Starmer has responded to attacks from US billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk over the Labour government’s response to grooming gangs in the UK.
Pressure had mounted on the prime minister after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips denied requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming in Oldham.
The tech billionaire triggered an attack on the government on Thursday, as he suggested Ms Phillips “deserves to be in prison”.
He also appeared to place blame at Sir Keir’s door, arguing that “rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice” during the prime minister’s time as director of public prosecutions.
Responding to reporter questions, Sir Keir said: “Those that are spreading lies and misinformation, as far and as wide as possible – they’re not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves.”
Since the Tesla boss posted his claims on X, several high profile figures including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch have also spoken out calling for a full inquiry into the sexual abuse.
Here’s what we know about the why Sir Keir is under fire over grooming gang scandal and whether there will be an inquiry:
Why did the uproar start?
The criticism began after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips formally denied requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming in Oldham.
Ms Phillips said she recognised the “strength of feeling” for a Home Office-led inquiry, but she told the local council the Government will not “intervene”.
“I believe it is for Oldham Council alone to decide to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation locally, rather than for the Government to intervene,” she said.
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SOURCE: www.independent.co.uk
RELATED: Victims want action, child abuse inquiry chair says
BBC NEWS | Published January 7, 2025
Victims “clearly want action” and do not need a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, the woman who led a seven-year probe into child sexual abuse has said.
Prof Alexis Jay told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “people should get on with” implementing her reforms and “locally people need to step up to the mark and do the things that have been recommended”.
“We’ve had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions – especially for the victims and survivors who’ve had the courage to come forward,” she said.
The Conservatives and Reform UK have called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs after the subject came under the spotlight, in part due to interventions on social media from Elon Musk.
But asked if a new national inquiry would hinder the implementation of her recommendations, Prof Jay said: “It would certainly cause delays.”
The Labour government has rejected calls for a new inquiry, saying it will enact the reforms set out by the Jay Review.
Prof Jay, who chaired the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA), said the row was “distracting from the issues”.
She said she was “very unhappy with the politicisation of child sexual exploitation” done in a “very uninformed way”.
However she added that the row may have given “some kind of impetus to move forward”.
Prof Jay declined to answer when asked whether she felt billionaire Musk knew what was going on in Oldham, where the council has been refused a government-led public inquiry in favour of a locally-led investigation.
But she said: “I have heard very little in the last few days about the appalling and lifelong effects that child sexual abuse can have on people.
“I am pleased that the subject matter and the inquiry recommendations are finally getting the attention they deserve but this is definitely not the way I would have chosen for it to happen, but it has had the effect of moving on the agenda.”
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SOURCE: www.bbc.com
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