‘No stone left unturned!’ Reform UK vows to launch grooming gangs inquiry to bring ‘monstrous’ offenders and officials to justice

The 38-year Reform UK Chairman was keen to highlight the inquiry would ensure that “monstrous” offenders and officials who “turned a blind eye” to justice.

Speaking at Reform UK's East of England conference, Yusuf said: “A Reform Government will also do something that Labour refused to do and the Tories failed to do in their 14 years in Government.

“We’ll ensure a full, national, independet inquiry into the despicable crimes of grooming gangs that have terrorised young girls in this country for decades.

“This inquiry will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

“It’ll ensure that the perpetrators, the monstrous perpetrators, and the officials who enabled them by turning a blind eye are brought to justice and are made to pay the heaviest price for their crimes.”

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson called for all of those involved in the scandal to be “put behind bars”.

He added: “Just this week conference, Labour’s Jess Phillips rejected an inquiry into child sex abuse in Oldham and you have to ask yourself the question why.

“I think we all know the reason. It’s the same reason that councils, police, social workers, social services and politicians have turned a blind eye in the past. They’re worried about votes.”

Nigel Farage separately echoed calls for a grooming gangs inquiry, claiming that everyone in the country “knows the truth” and understands that “mass open-door immigration without assimilation” is a “disaster”.

• Reform mayor blasts Labour’s refusal to launch inquiry into grooming gangs scandal
• Farage receives standing ovation as Reform hits major milestone mid-speech: ‘Are you watching Kemi?’
• Keir Starmer IGNORED Rotherham grooming gangs whistleblower as she battled bullying ordeal

A report by Professor Alexis Jay in 2014 revealed that between 1997 and 2013, around 1,400 girls were abused and police and social services failed to intervene.

The comments came after GB News exclusively revealed that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips had rejected calls for a national inquiry.

In a letter, seen by GB News, said that she believed “it is for Oldham Council alone to decide to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation locally, rather than for the Government to intervene”.

Phillips continued: “I welcome the Council's resolution to do so, as set out in your letter, and to continue its important work with victims and survivors.”

Despite the Tories rejecting a proposal for an inquiry in 2022, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp and Shadow Safeguarding Minister Alicia Kearns penned a letter to the Government demanding action.

In their letter, Philp and Kearns told Yvette Cooper and Phillips that their decision had “shocked and distressed many survivors as well as outraged the public”.

The Tory pair added: “Surely if the council recognises the gravity and scale of the crimes committed and is requesting the support of Government to ensure no more young girls are failed, it is right for Government to support their request.

“This is particularly the case when survivors have said they have no trust in the Council.

“We ask you to reconsider your decision in Oldham and explain why it took over three months for you to respond to their letter given the seriousness of their request.”

They continued: “Only a statutory Public Inquiry can adequately encompass the national nature of these crimes and issues, and consider police, CPS and local council handling of these crimes (including whether reports were ignored or even covered up).”

“We now ask you to now launch a time-limited, national statutory Public Inquiry into grooming and rape gangs to get to the truth once and for all.”

Philp and Kearns also pointed to Rishi Sunak's Grooming Gangs Task Force - which helped arrest over 550 suspects in the nationwide scandal.

However, Nigel Farage piled in against the Tories calls immediately after Kemi Badenoch spoke out about the issue.
He said: “Talk is cheap. The Conservatives had 14 years in Government to launch an inquiry.”

Responding to GB News’ initial exclusive, a Home Office spokesman said: “No child should ever suffer sexual abuse or exploitation.

“Everyone who is responsible for children's welfare must learn from past mistakes and do everything possible to prevent future failures.”

A Labour Party statement was also released following Philp and Kearns’ letter.

It said: “Child sexual abuse and exploitation are the most horrendous crimes and the Home Office supports police investigations and independent inquiries to get truth and justice for victims.

We have supported both the national overarching inquiry into child abuse which reported in 2022, and local independent inquiries and reviews including in Telford, Rotherham and Greater Manchester.

“This Government is working urgently to strengthen the law so that these crimes are properly reported and investigated.”