Labour break up as Lisa Nandy slaps down requires grooming gang inquiry | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour’s civil battle over whether or not there ought to be an inquiry into little one sexual grooming gangs was additional uncovered this morning, after Lisa Nandy slapped down calls by senior occasion colleagues.

The Culture Secretary rejected Andy Burnham’s intervention yesterday, after the Manchester mayor turned the latesT determine to concede to stress from the Tories and Reform.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Burnham stated he believed there may be scope for a “limited national inquiry”, which pulls on earlier investigations however joins up the dots to create a clearer image of the nationwide scandal.

He informed the BBC: “I do think there is a case for limited national inquiry that draws on reviews like the one that I commissioned, the one I’ve seen in Rotherham, and the one we saw in Telford”.

This morning Lisa Nandy stated she nonetheless opposes the decision, arguing that the earlier Jaye inquiry took seven years and lots of victims “said they didn’t really feel that any inquiry would result in action”.

“There were 20 recommendations from that inquiry, and the Conservative government didn’t implement a single one.

“I think it would be very hard to say to victims ‘we’re doing another inquiry when we haven’t implemented a single recommendation from the last’.

“Over the years we’ve had so many inquiries, every single one has found the same things: young girls are not believed because they’re young, because they’re female, and because they’re working class; and the systems that are supposed to protect them protect themselves instead.”

Ms Nandy’s opposition to Mr Burnham’s intervention got here after Downing Street additionally slapped down his suggestion, insisting one other inquiry would merely imply additional “delay”.

The PM’s spokesman stated: “It’s only reasonable for people to have a range of views, but his focus and the government’s focus is on action now, not more inquiries or delay.”

Mr Burnham stated he felt “frustrated” that Westminster politicians had “taken no interest” in the issue when those reports were published.

Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman also backed Mr Burnham’s call for a ‘mini inquiry’ into the issues raised by the scandal.

She said Sir Keir should join with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to discuss the “terms of reference”.

She informed Sky News: “I think that whether it’s a task force, whether it’s more action plans, whether it’s a mini inquiry on this, this is something that we need to develop resilience in”.

Ms Harman added there’s “always got to be an openness to further analysis, further consideration of what proposals would move things forward.”

Matt Vickers MP, Shadow Home Office Minister, stated: “Labour were wrong to block the Conservative call for an inquiry into rape gangs.”

“Andy Burnham is just the latest voice now calling for Keir Starmer to change track and put the victims of this vile scandal first instead of his own pride.”