UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds apologised to the grooming gangs inquiry survivors after four women resigned from the liaison panel.
As reported by The Independent, a Cabinet minister expressed regret over the government’s handling of the national grooming gangs inquiry after four abuse survivors resigned.
What did Emma Reynolds say about apologizing to grooming inquiry victims?
Emma Reynolds told Times Radio she was sorry if victims felt let down, while affirming the government’s commitment to delivering justice.
Her remarks came after four women resigned from the inquiry’s victims and survivors liaison panel, citing concerns over a “toxic environment.”
What did Shabana Mahmood say about the grooming gangs inquiry chaos?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pledges the grooming gangs inquiry will leave “no hiding place” after probe faces turmoil.
She stepped in after several survivors resigned from the inquiry’s oversight panel, alleging a cover-up and a “toxic environment.” The inquiry still lacks an appointed chair.
After the resignations, Ms Mahmood reaffirmed the inquiry’s scope will remain unchanged, asserting it
“will never be watered down on my watch.”
She added it will examine abuse suffered by the
“most vulnerable people in this country.”
The home secretary said,
“It is essential that the victims themselves are at the heart of this inquiry. It was for that reason that we set up a victims group to support the inquiry in its inception, and throughout its work.”
She stated,
“It was with a heavy heart, in recent days, I learnt that some members have decided to step away from the group.”
Ms Mahmood assured the probe would be “robust,” with the power to compel witnesses, adding,
“There will be no hiding place for those who abused the most vulnerable in our society. Nor will those who ignored victims, and even covered up what occurred, be shielded from the truth.”
Which survivors resigned from the inquiry’s liaison panel over an alleged cover-up?
Two survivors, Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds, resigned from the inquiry on Monday, followed by two other women the next day.
The survivors raised concerns about plans to expand the inquiry and questioned the candidates being considered to chair it, including a former police chief and a social worker.
In her resignation letter, Elizabeth called the process a “cover-up,” claiming it had created a “toxic environment for survivors.”
She claimed the process had been “scripted and predetermined rather than reflecting genuine, open dialogue with survivors.”
She said,
“This sense of control and stage-management has left many of us questioning whether our voices truly matter, or whether we are being used to legitimise decisions that have already been made.”
Elizabeth alleged that the Home Office held secret meetings and made “decisions we couldn’t question.”
She added,
“The final turning point for me was the push to change the remit, to widen it in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse. For many of us, these were not incidental factors; they were central to why we were targeted and why institutions failed to act. To erase that truth is to rewrite history.”
Ms Goddard and Ms Reynolds also slammed the Home Office’s handling of the matter.
In her resignation letter, Ms Goddard described the process as marked by “secretive conduct” and the use of “condescending and controlling language” toward survivors, citing a “toxic, fearful environment” and a high risk of people feeling silenced again.
Ms Goddard stated,
“This is a disturbing conflict of interest and I fear the lack of trust in services from years of failings and corruption will have a negative impact in survivor engagement with this inquiry.”
She renewed her demand for the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, to resign, after the minister disputed claims that the inquiry was being watered down.
Ms Goddard added,
“My problem is there is little to no recognition of what Jess Phillips did today by nationally calling me a liar when she knew I was telling the truth. I think that there needs to be an apology, swiftly followed by Jess Phillips’s resignation.”
What did Sarah Sackman say about the grooming gangs inquiry after survivor resignations?
Justice Minister Sarah Sackman insisted victims could have confidence in the national inquiry, after two survivors of child sexual abuse resigned.
She said,
“The grooming gangs scandal and the abuse that was suffered by victims is one of the worst crimes in recent British history. As minister for courts, my focus is always on the victims. They can have confidence.”
Ms Sackman stated,
“This Government has acted in ordering a national inquiry. We’re taking our time to choose the best possible chair to ensure that our response is robust. The fact that the Prime Minister is someone that prosecuted grooming gangs before he entered Parliament shows how much this is a priority at the very top of Government, and I want to reassure victims that we will stop at nothing to ensure that they get the justice they deserve.”
What did the Home Office say about the grooming gangs inquiry?
A Home Office spokesperson stated,
“The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.”
They added,
“Any suggestion that this inquiry is being watered down is completely wrong – we are committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for.”
What are grooming gangs?
Grooming gangs refer to organized groups who befriend and build trust with children and teenagers, with the intent of later sexually exploiting them.
In Britain, official reports have identified thousands of victims, with major cases in cities like Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford involving an estimated 1,000+ victims each.