Kemi Badenoch has known as for a nationwide inquiry into the grooming scandal that occurred throughout UK cities and cities, arguing one was “long overdue”.
The Tory chief stated 2025 “must be the year that victims get justice” after it emerged that Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, had rejected calls from Oldham council for a public inquiry into youngster exploitation within the city.
In a put up on X, the Tory chief wrote: “The time is long overdue for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal.
“Trials have taken place everywhere in the nation lately however nobody in authority has joined the dots. 2025 have to be the yr that the victims begin to get justice.”
X
This content material is offered by X, which can be utilizing cookies and different applied sciences.
To point out you this content material, we’d like your permission to make use of cookies.
You should utilize the buttons beneath to amend your preferences to allow X cookies or to permit these cookies simply as soon as.
You possibly can change your settings at any time through the Privateness Choices.
Sadly we have now been unable to confirm when you’ve got consented to X cookies.
To view this content material you should utilize the button beneath to permit X cookies for this session solely.
Allow Cookies
Enable Cookies As soon as
Ms Badenoch was joined in her calls by shadow safeguarding minister Alicia Kearns, who has written to Ms Phillips asking her to reverse the federal government’s choice concerning Oldham.
“We have asked for planned Conservative measures to be enacted, to reverse the Oldham refusal, and for a statutory inquiry into grooming and rape gangs,” she wrote.
X
This content material is offered by X, which can be utilizing cookies and different applied sciences.
To point out you this content material, we’d like your permission to make use of cookies.
You should utilize the buttons beneath to amend your preferences to allow X cookies or to permit these cookies simply as soon as.
You possibly can change your settings at any time through the Privateness Choices.
Sadly we have now been unable to confirm when you’ve got consented to X cookies.
To view this content material you should utilize the button beneath to permit X cookies for this session solely.
Allow Cookies
Enable Cookies As soon as
Ladies as younger as 11 have been groomed and raped throughout a lot of cities in England – together with Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford – over a decade in the past in a nationwide scandal that was uncovered in 2013.
The next yr a report by Prof Alexis Jay revealed the size of exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013 – the place round 1,400 ladies have been abused – and the failure of police and social providers to intervene.
It was adopted by the statutory Unbiased Inquiry into Little one Sexual Abuse (IICSA), additionally chaired by Prof Jay, who present in her ultimate report printed in 2022 that kids have been nonetheless being sexually exploited by networks in all elements of England and Wales within the “most degrading and destructive ways”.
The ultimate report really useful that establishments that work with kids ought to be required by regulation to report suspicions of kid sexual abuse.
In a letter to Oldham Council dated October final yr, Ms Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, stated that whereas she recognised the “strength of feeling” over the matter, she believed it was for “Oldham Council alone to decide to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation locally, rather than for the government to intervene”.
She added: “I welcome the council’s resolution to do so, as set out in your letter, and to continue its important work with victims and survivors.
“Ought to the council select to proceed, I’d look ahead to the inquiry’s findings and making certain that any classes that may be learnt to enhance the frontline response are adopted at an area and, the place relevant, at a nationwide degree.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
0:29
Youngsters ‘nonetheless in danger’ of abuse in Rochdale
Ms Phillips has been criticised for her response by Conservative politicians, together with former dwelling secretary Suella Braverman, who accused the minister of “letting down victims”.
Nonetheless, Ms Badenoch confronted criticism on social media by Sammy Woodhouse, a survivor of sexual abuse in Rotherham, who stated: “I’ve met with your party for 12 years about this when you were in power. I asked for an inquiry into every town and city, none of you cared. Now you need the vote you want to speak on it?”
And Reform UK chief Nigel Farage stated: “Talk is cheap. The Conservatives had 14 years in government to launch an inquiry.
“The institution has failed the victims of grooming gangs on each degree.”
An Oldham Council spokesman said: “Survivors sit on the coronary heart of our work to finish youngster sexual exploitation.
“Whatever happens in terms of future inquiries, we have promised them that their wishes will be paramount, and we will not renege on that pledge.”
A Labour spokesperson stated: “Child sexual abuse and exploitation are the most horrendous crimes and the Home Office supports police investigations and independent inquiries to get truth and justice for victims.
“We have now supported each the nationwide overarching inquiry into youngster abuse which reported in 2022, and native impartial inquiries and critiques together with in Telford, Rotherham and Larger Manchester.
“This government is working urgently to strengthen the law so that these crimes are properly reported and investigated.”
