Jess Phillips does not rule out new national inquiry into grooming gangs

Published

1 month ago

January 8, 2025

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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.

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.

She said: “The measures that I’m setting out today and the legislation in many ways go further because it puts a requirement on all councils to have teams working to keep children safe.

“And the bandwagon jumpers that have come along in recent days, they don’t care about children, they don’t care about making sure that we stop this and we take action.

“They had years to do it and they didn’t do it.”

The Conservatives also rejected a call from Oldham Council for a government inquiry in 2022.

You can listen to Beth’s full interview with Jess Phillips in a special episode of Electoral Dysfunction released on Thursday.

Politics

Andrew Gwynne sacked as health minister over comments posted on a WhatsApp group

Published

5 hours ago

February 8, 2025

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Andrew Gwynne sacked as health minister over comments posted on a WhatsApp group

Health minister Andrew Gwynne has been sacked over comments posted on a WhatsApp group.

Mr Gwynne reportedly made antisemitic comments and ‘joked’ about a pensioner constituent, saying he hoped she died before the next election, according to the Mail on Sunday.

In the WhatsApp chat, which contained Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP, Mr Gwynne made racist comments about Labour MP Dianne Abbott and sexist remarks about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

A government spokesperson said: “The prime minister is determined to uphold high standards of conduct in public office and lead a government in the service of working people. He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case.”

A Labour spokesperson confirmed Mr Gwynne had been suspended as a member of the Labour Party.

“We are investigating comments made in this WhatsApp group in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures,” they said. “Swift action will be taken if individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”

Mr Gwynne said he deeply regretted his “badly misjudged comments” and apologised for any offence caused.

“I’ve served the Labour Party all my life and it was a huge honour to be appointed a minister by Keir Starmer.

“I entirely understand the decisions the PM and the party have taken and, while very sad to have been suspended, will support them in any way I can.”

Nigel Huddleston MP, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, said there is “clear contempt for pensioners in the Labour Party”.

“This clearly goes beyond Andrew Gwynne and there is a rot in Labour that needs fixing. Andrew Gwynne should not remain a member of the Labour Party – they need to act.”