Child sex abuse inquiry chief wades into row over grooming gang probe
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The head of a seven-year inquiry into child sex abuse has warned a national grooming gangs probe would lead to more delays - at a time when victims desperately need action. Professor Alexis Jay made the comment as Reform and Tory leaders Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch clamour for a new probe. Prof Jay, who headed the harrowing Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), said she was unhappy that some were "politicising" the issue with little concern for victims.
Mr Farage announced his party will crowdfund an unofficial inquiry if the Government does not announce one, while Ms Badenoch wants MPs to vote on the calls. But Prof Jay told the BBC's Today Programme: "I think that the time has passed for more inquiries. We've had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions, and especially for those victims and survivors who've had the courage to come forward.
"And there are many of them across the piece in child sexual abuse, not simply child sexual exploitation. They clearly want action. "And we have set out what action is required and people should just get on with it locally and nationally.". Ministers faced fury after rejecting calls for a new national inquiry, saying they will focus on finally implementing the IICSA's 20 recommendations, put forward in 2022. On Monday Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced it will be mandatory to report sex abuse - one of the key measures the inquiry demanded.
Labour called for this a decade ago, Ms Cooper told the Commons on Monday. After it emerged the Government did not support a new inquiry the world's richest man, Elon Musk, unleashed a tirade of abuse against Keir Starmer and Home Office Minister Jess Phillips. Mr Starmer said the billionaire had "crossed a line" and pointed to his own work tackling grooming gang when he was Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.
