Jess Phillips does not rule out new national inquiry into grooming gangs
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Jess Phillips has said "nothing is off the table" when dealing with the grooming gangs scandal - including a new national inquiry if victims want one. The safeguarding minister told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast that she would listen to victims on a new panel that was announced by the government this week.
"Nothing is off the table," she said. "And if the victims come forward to me in this victims panel and they say, 'actually, we think there needs to be a national inquiry into this', I'll listen to them.". Politics latest: Tories told to 'put up or shut up'.
Her comments come days after it emerged she had rejected calls from Oldham Council to hold a government inquiry into grooming gangs in the town, and said the council should commission one instead. That has led to tech billionaire Elon Musk attacking her and Sir Keir Starmer for not holding a national inquiry and accusing the prime minister of being "complicit" in the abuse.
Professor Alexis Jay finished an eight-year national inquiry into child sexual abuse in 2022 and set out recommendations for the government. Read more:What happened in the grooming gangs scandal?Why the Tories' attempts to force inquiry won't work. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.
. The Conservatives tabled an amendment to the Children's Safeguarding and Schools Bill on Wednesday to require a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. However, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky News the Tories "don't care about children" as the amendment could prevent the entire bill from going forward.
