Labour is under increasing fire for its handling of the grooming gang scandal following a refusal to launch a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham. Jess Phillips, Labour’s Shadow Safeguarding Minister, recently rejected calls for a public investigation, suggesting it is the responsibility of local councils to address such matters. The decision has sparked outrage across the political spectrum and from prominent public figures.
Elon Musk, tech billionaire and vocal critic of Sir Keir Starmer’s Government, led the backlash. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Musk accused Phillips of protecting Starmer, who was the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from 2008 to 2013, during a period when authorities failed to prosecute grooming gangs effectively. Musk wrote: “Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer. Who is Jess Phillips’ boss? Keir Starmer.”
Musk further called for Phillips’ imprisonment, labeling the decision to block a national inquiry “disgraceful.” Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, echoed Musk’s sentiment, emphasizing that “2025 must be the year victims start to get justice.”
The demand for a full-scale public inquiry comes in the wake of a GB News exclusive, which revealed Phillips’ rejection of such calls. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Shadow Safeguarding Minister Alicia Kearns subsequently wrote to Labour counterparts Yvette Cooper and Jess Phillips, urging them to reconsider.
In their letter, Philp and Kearns stated: “Surely if the council recognizes the gravity and scale of these crimes and is requesting Government support, it is right for Government to act. Survivors have said they have no trust in the council. Only a statutory public inquiry can address these national crimes and ensure justice.”
Table of Contents
- Labour’s Response and the Debate Over Accountability
- Cross-Party Condemnation
- Public Outcry and Implications for Labour
Labour’s Response and the Debate Over Accountability
Labour defended its stance, highlighting its support for previous local inquiries, such as those in Telford, Rotherham, and Greater Manchester, and underscoring the 2022 national inquiry into child sexual abuse. A Labour spokesperson said: “The most horrendous crimes have occurred, and we must deliver justice. We support Oldham Council in its commitment to victims and survivors.”
However, critics argue that local inquiries lack the scope and authority of a national statutory investigation. Philp and Kearns stressed the need to examine the actions of police, local councils, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
In a 2012 statement, Starmer admitted that the CPS had failed victims, acknowledging that ethnicity concerns and doubts about victim credibility had hindered prosecutions. “As prosecutors, we shouldn’t shy away from addressing these issues,” he said.
Cross-Party Condemnation
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, rebuked both Labour and the Conservatives for failing victims. He accused successive governments of ignoring systemic failures and called for decisive action. “The establishment has failed victims of grooming gangs on every level,” he stated.
Liz Truss, the former prime minister, criticized Phillips’ decision, arguing that only a national inquiry can compel witnesses and rebuild survivors’ trust. Conservative councillors in Oldham have also called for greater government involvement, citing survivors’ lack of confidence in the council’s ability to deliver justice.
Public Outcry and Implications for Labour
Social media commentators have suggested Phillips’ decision may be influenced by her constituency demographics, as Birmingham Yardley has a significant Muslim population. Her majority in the last general election shrank from over 13,000 to just 693 votes.
The controversy has intensified calls for accountability, with survivors and campaigners demanding justice. The Government’s Grooming Gangs Task Force has already facilitated the arrest of over 550 suspects, but critics argue that without a comprehensive public inquiry, systemic failures will persist.
As pressure mounts, Labour faces a critical test of its commitment to addressing these heinous crimes. With prominent voices like Elon Musk and Kemi Badenoch amplifying the issue, the demand for a national inquiry remains at the forefront of public debate.
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