'Labour won’t fix grooming gangs crisis!' Father of abuse survivor slams 'whitewashing' independent inquiry

But the frustrated father has now told GB News that he believed Labour was not ready to take the necessary steps to confront the rape gangs.

In the minutes of a meeting held with Phillips in November, seen exclusively by GB News, it says that West “raised the potential creation of one national strategy that brings together the vast number of services involved and has one clear person in charge”.

But the minutes continued: “The Minister explained the challenges we are facing with ownership and progression of the IICSA [the Independent Inquiry to Child Sexual Abuse] recommendations, but that she will be using everything in her power to push this forward with other departments.”

The fighting father told The People’s Channel that, contrary to these minutes, he had gone to Westminster to meet with the minister to argue for a national public inquiry, not just a “national strategy.”

West said that the IICSA recommendations were insufficient and that a full inquiry that covers all of the towns with credible reports of abuse gangs is needed to rout out this scandal.

He added that Phillips downplayed the need for a national inquiry during his meetings with her.

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West told GB News that he feels as if he can "no longer trust Labour" with the crisis and branded the current investigation "whitewashing".

He said: "The independent inquiries are not worth the paper that they are written on. I've been campaigning now for nearly two years for a national public inquiry.

"The reason why the independent inquiries are not particularly very helpful is to do with the recommendations at the end, they're not enforceable.

"The other thing is they just skim over it. They don't look, they don't dissect the cases.

He explained: "I don't trust any of the Labour ministers now. I am so disappointed.

"Their attitude was so different before they came into power. Now I feel as if I've had a lot of false promises. I have no encouragement in any of the MPs today."

He added: "If I could, I would get on my hands and knees and beg them to reconsider and support myself and other families and survivors.

"To open up a national public inquiry. Because how many independent inquiries are we going to have? There are a waste of taxpayers money."

Marlon’s daughter Scarlett has endured abuse and exploitation several times, including in Greater Manchester in recent years.

There have still been no convictions for anyone associated with her abuse.

A Government spokesman said: "The abuse that Mr West’s daughter endured was unimaginable and something that no child should ever have to suffer.

"The Minister met with West to assure him that she will do everything within her power to protect vulnerable children and bring those who are responsible to justice. The Minister has been working across Government to drive forward work to implement the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

"We fully support an independent inquiry or investigation by Oldham Council. This is entirely in line with the approach of the previous Government and follows the example of local reviews in Telford and Rotherham."