Bitter blow to Starmer as Labour MPs for grooming gang scandal towns Rochdale & Rotherham join calls for inquiry
BOTH Labour MPs for Rotherham and Rochdale have now backed a national inquiry into child rape gangs – heaping further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer.
The two northern towns were at the epicentre of the grooming scandal that saw predominantly Asian men sexually abuse young girls.
The PM has so far refused calls to launch a statutory probe specifically into the issue, stressing it is more important to act now.
Now he is facing demands from his own backbenchers who represent some of the areas most blighted by the scandal.
Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said today: “It’s clear that nothing less than a national inquiry into the failings of those in authority to prevent and be accountable for their failings… will restore the faith in our safeguarding systems.”
And Rochdale’s Paul Waugh said he would support an inquiry if that is what the victims want.
He told the BBC: “I’m not against a national enquiry but it has got to have some key caveats.
“Is it supported by victims because they are the people who have told their stories and it took a lot of bravery to tell those stories?”
Their interventions come after a third Labour MP – Liverpool’s Dan Carden – also called for an inquiry.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has also pressed for a government-backed probe after his locally-commissioned one lacked the ability to compel witnesses to give evidence
The PM last week insisted it was time for “action” instead of the “delay of a further inquiry” and pledged a series of measures to protect kids.
Sit Keir promised to implement the 2021 recommendations from a report into child abuse by Professor Alexis Jay.
A No10 spokesman said last week: “We will be guided by the victims, and what we’ve heard from the victims is that they don’t want to see another national inquiry.”
Critics argue that the Jay inquiry was on the wider issue of child abuse, rather than specifically focusing on grooming gangs.
Kemi Badenoch last week tried to force an inquiry via a vote in the Commons that was easily defeated.
Some 364 mainly Labour MPs voted to throw out her amendment, dwarfing the 111 in favour – a majority of 253.