Tory MP Esther McVey's has slammed Jess Phillips, calling her behaviour "shameful" and accusing her of "letting people down" by supporting watered-down local inquiries instead of a full national investigation.
Speaking to GB News, McVey claimed Phillips had "turned her cheek" when victims asked for her help.
The row intensified after Reform UK MP Lee Anderson directly accused Phillips of being part of a "cover-up" during a Commons session on Monday.
The Ashfield MP, confronted the Labour safeguarding and violence against women and girls minister in Parliament.
McVey claimed Phillips had 'turned her cheek' when victims asked for her help
GB NEWS
The heated exchange came months after the issue of grooming gangs shot to prominence following criticism from Elon Musk directed at Labour and Phillips specifically.
Reform UK and the Conservatives have been pushing for a full public inquiry into the historic scandal since January.
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Speaking to GB News, Tory MP Esther McVey said: "I think the government is behind the curve on this. It's dragging its feet.
"And actually, Jess Phillips should be embarrassed that she’s not doing more embarrassed that she allowed the Labour Party to water down this inquiry.
"Look, we need a proper, full national inquiry to find out what actually went on. Where were the cover-ups?
"Who let people down? How many instances are there, and how widespread is this geographically across the country?
"That’s why we need a national inquiry. You can’t have councils refusing to investigate or effectively marking their own homework.
"I’m delighted that this issue has risen on the political agenda, and I’m pleased that all parties are now saying we have to get to the bottom of this."
Speaking about Jess Phillips, she added: "She’s made her name on the back of all those women, but when push came to shove when they asked her for help she turned her cheek and looked the other way.
"What she brought back to the House the other week, the day before recess, was shameful. It was a watering down, and all those people who rightly believed she would be the best person to champion the cause have been let down."
Reform UK and the Conservatives have been pushing for a full public inquiry into the historic scandal since January.
Jess Phillips defended her record in the Commons yesterday
PAThe government has refused to support such an inquiry, with Labour instead proposing a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence alongside five government-backed local inquiries.
Phillips defended her record in the commons yesterday and said that “the easiest thing for me to have done in this situation would have been to capitulate”.
She added: “But I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. I believe from my years of work and speaking to the victims, and working in Telford with those victims about what changed afterwards, I believe genuinely.
“I wouldn’t stand here if I didn’t believe it. And the idea that I am trying to protect something of myself – this process has brought, I have to say, it has not been protecting of me.”
