A government minister has said no to a call from a senior Labour politician for a new nationwide investigation into grooming gangs. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy disagreed with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who wanted a fresh inquiry into historical child abuse in places like Oldham and Rochdale. However, Nandy said the government is open to another investigation in the future if it is needed.
Ministers are currently focused on acting on recommendations from a major inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay. This inquiry, which lasted seven years, looked at child abuse cases and has not yet been fully implemented.
In a recent TV interview, Nandy acknowledged Burnham’s concerns but disagreed with him. She pointed out that the national inquiry was meant to address the problems Burnham highlighted, such as the failures to protect young victims, particularly those who are female and from working-class backgrounds.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that starting a new inquiry might slow down important actions to tackle child sexual abuse. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to enforce mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, which will be detailed soon.
Burnham stated that while he supports a new inquiry, he believes it should draw on previous reviews to better understand national issues. He stressed the need for a national investigation that could compel people to testify.
On Wednesday, MPs voted down a proposal from the Conservative Party for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, which Burnham felt was the right decision. He noted that while discussions are ongoing, survivors of abuse might still have differing opinions on whether a new inquiry is really required.
Nandy said it’s crucial to act on survivors’ experiences and recommendations already provided, rather than reopen old wounds without results. She also mentioned that new information about child abuse often comes to light over time, so they might consider another inquiry in the future if necessary.
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