Grooming Group Resigns, Demands Action from Government

The Grooming Group for Victims of Mass Child Rape, which stepped back from the national inquiry this week, has put forth several demands for the left-wing Labor government to consider participating again. Among these demands is the removal of Security Minister Jess Phillips.

The national inquiry, which focuses on a serious issue—mass rape and sexual exploitation predominantly involving young white working-class girls by largely Pakistani Muslim grooming gangs—has faced significant turmoil. This week, four members of the Survivors and Victims Advisory Committee resigned amidst accusations of governmental cover-ups and local authority failures.

At a crucial moment, Mr. Phillips asserted that he holds “full confidence” in the Prime Minister. This situation reveals a broader political crisis for the government, which had initially shown reluctance toward this inquiry. Calls for Phillips to resign over what many see as misplaced accusations against a survivor have surfaced. Yet, the government maintains its support for her, putting them in a precarious position given their history of covering up such heinous crimes.

This is clearly not an easy position for Phillips. In political circles, a Prime Minister’s public declaration of confidence often precedes a minister’s exit from their role.

Children’s Minister Josh McAllister recently echoed Sir Keir Starmer’s sentiments, indicating that Phillips enjoys the backing of both the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

Continuing the turmoil, the survivors have criticized the government for appointing individuals with vested interests to lead the inquiry. They argue that expanding the inquiry’s scope might dilute attention from the specific failures that allowed these grooming gangs to operate unchallenged for so long. Critics have suggested that political correctness has contributed to the silence surrounding these crimes, especially when authorities fear accusations of racism.

On Tuesday, Jess Phillips, who had previously opposed the inquiry, publicly challenged the victims. She accused them of lying about the inquiry and referred to the idea that its scope would be broadened as “a total lie.” However, troubling internal communications have suggested that her concerns about expanding the inquiry are justified.

A letter sent to Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood by the four resigning members indicates they would reconsider their involvement only if Phillips stepped down. They criticized her for actions that undermine trust in the government by survivors. They stated that her resignation would demonstrate a commitment to accountability and a change in course.

Moreover, the survivors insist that the inquiry remain focused strictly on gang-related actions and that victims be allowed to engage with support networks freely and without fear of retribution.

The group has also called for victims to be consulted regarding the appointment of the inquiry committee chair, advocating for someone with judicial experience who lacks ties to police or social services—all institutions tied to previous cover-ups.

Additionally, there are demands for the dismissal of victim liaison officer Saba Qaiser due to her comments that appeared to minimize the racial dimensions of the scandal. Qaiser had previously stated that attributing gang-related crimes primarily to Pakistani Muslim men was “irresponsible” and “not based on evidence,” a claim that stands in stark contrast to findings from the Casey report.

Historically, discussions surrounding race and religion in the British press have been fraught with controversy, often resulting in harsh backlash against those who dare to address these sensitive subjects. Earlier this year, Starmer labeled supporters of a national inquiry as participating in “far-right” misinformation.

The issue was long considered taboo, and as late as January, Starmer was under pressure for his stance against the national inquiry. Under growing scrutiny, he eventually agreed to the inquiry in June, following the release of the Casey report.

However, some, including former detective Maggie Oliver, claim that Starmer is attempting to hinder the investigation. She has accused him of orchestrating another cover-up by seeking to broaden the focus away from gang-related grooming, stating that such actions would obscure the reality of these crimes and downplay their significance.