Labour rejects calls for Oldham grooming gang inquiry

State failure was a consistent theme of British politics in 2024. So as the new year begins, attention has turned to perhaps the most egregious instance of that malaise in modern times: the horrific scandal of grooming gangs in dozens of UK cities. Jess Phillips, the Safeguarding Minister, has rejected calls for a government inquiry into historic child abuse in Oldham, prompting a Tory backlash. Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, called it ‘shameful’; Liz Truss, the ex PM, labelled Phillips’ title ‘a perversion of the English language.’ Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter/X, argues that the Home Office minister ‘deserves to be in prison.’

Phillips’ letter to Oldham Council, seen by GB News, claims it is for the local authority ‘alone to decide to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation locally, rather than for the government to intervene.’ Reports have previously been commissioned and produced in Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford; Oldham now plans to launch its own Telford-style inquiry.