UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Education Minister Josh MacAlister says Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips has the support of PM Keir Starmer amid calls for resignation over grooming inquiry.
As reported by Sky News, Home Office minister Jess Phillips has retained government backing amid pressure from grooming gang survivors calling for her resignation.
What did Josh MacAlister say about Jess Phillips’ future in the Home Office?
Josh MacAlister said,
“Jess will stay in post,” adding she has “full backing of the prime minister and the home secretary.”
He stated,
“I know Jess, she’s been a lifelong advocate and champion for young girls who’ve been abused, and she has already shown that she’s properly engaging with the survivor community.”
Mr MacAlister said calls for Ms Phillips’ resignation represent a minority view among survivors, with opposition parties amplifying their voices.
He added,
“The government’s intent on this is incredibly solid.We want to get this right. We’re taking action and we’ll set the inquiry up. I would just urge other political parties to turn the volume down a little bit, or turn the heat down a little bit on, on their attacks.”
The minister admitted that some survivors linked to the grooming gangs inquiry had expressed disagreement over how it was set up.
He explained that government questions about extending the inquiry to cover other areas of child sexual exploitation were misinterpreted by some as a widening of the probe, when it was merely under consideration.
Mr MacAlister added,
“Some survivors obviously took from that the scope was going to be broadened and they weren’t happy with that. That’s entirely right that they should have that view.”
He added that the inquiry’s scope would remain intact and confirmed that the government would take its time to appoint the right chair.
The education minister did not rule out the possibility of a former care worker or police officer being appointed, despite objections from some survivors, calling it “what some are saying.”
What did grooming gang survivors say about Jess Phillips?
Four former members of the victims’ liaison panel said they would consider returning if Jess Phillips resigned as safeguarding minister.
Following the exit of two candidates from the race to chair the inquiry, the Prime Minister maintained that Ms Phillips and Baroness Louise Casey “are the right people” to lead the national investigation.
In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the four women said Ms Phillips dismissed some of their claims as “untrue,” despite providing evidence to support them.
One survivor, Ellie-Ann Reynolds, said her breaking point came with
“the push to change the remit, widening it in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse.”
Ms Phillips told MPs that
“allegations of intentional delay, lack of interest or widening of the inquiry scope and dilution are false.”
According to a letter, Ms Reynolds, Fiona Goddard, Elizabeth Harper, and a woman identified as “Jessica” said they would return to the advisory panel only if five conditions are met.
The survivors’ letter shared by Ms Goddard reads,
“Being publicly contradicted and dismissed by a government minister when you are a survivor telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again. It is a betrayal that has destroyed what little trust remained.”
It adds,
“We have been failed by every institution meant to protect us. We were failed as children, we were failed by police who didn’t believe us, failed by social services who blamed us, and failed by a system that protected our abusers.”
The letter added,
“We will not participate in an inquiry that repeats those same patterns of dismissal, secrecy, and institutional self-protection.”
What did James Cleverly say about Jess Phillips and the inquiry?
Referring to Jess Phillips’ role in grooming gangs, Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly said,
“Well, I can’t see how she can, because the victims, a significant number of the victims, are saying that they have lost confidence in her and therefore, by extension, the process.”
He responded to Josh MacAlister’s claim that concerns about watering down the inquiry were unfounded, saying,
“They were asking about whether this should be expanded and by extension watered down, and if it had just been an isolated question, I think the point that Josh made would be legitimate.”
Ms Cleverly added,
“But this is a pattern of behaviour where the government has consistently tried to avoid or dilute this process, and it is unsurprising, therefore, that a number of the victims have lost confidence.”
What did Jim Gamble say about Jess Phillips’ role?
Jim Gamble, who previously led the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command, confirmed he is no longer pursuing the role of chair for the grooming gangs inquiry.
He said he has confidence in Jess Phillips as safeguarding minister, amid calls for her resignation, adding,
“To be honest, I do [have confidence in her]. I’ve seen nothing to remove that confidence.”
Mr Gamble added,
“Now, has she got everything right? You know, I don’t think so, but none of us have.”
He described the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s handling of the issue as “disappointing.”
The ex-police officer added,
“She’s a forthright and direct individual. But I was disappointed at the manner of the engagement because actually it would be much better to say, look, I’ve been speaking to some of the victims and survivors, you know, let’s get together and discuss this because not all victims and survivors want the same thing.”
What did Keir Starmer say about the grooming gangs inquiry?
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the inquiry “is not and will never be watered down” and its scope “will not change.”
He stated,
“It will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders, and we will find the right person to chair the inquiry.”
Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister said that ‘injustice will have no place to hide’ and confirmed that Baroness Louise Casey will be brought in to support the inquiry.
Ms Casey previously led a national audit into group-based child sexual exploitation, which found many organisations avoided discussing ethnicity or cultural factors for fear of being seen as racist.
The scale of victims og grooming gangs is significant, with official inquiries identifying hundreds of victims in individual towns like Rotherham and Rochdale. A 2020 report revealed that there are potentially tens of thousands of victims across the UK.
