Chaos deepens on Labour’s grooming gangs probe as victims demand Jess Phillips quits over ‘cover-up’ – but others threaten to walk away from advisory panel if minister is ousted

Keir Starmer insisted today he still has ‘faith’ in Jess Phillips despite the grooming gang’s investigation descending further into chaos.

Prime Minister expressed his confidence in the protection minister Four survivors are demanding his dismissal over allegations of a ‘cover-up’.

In their letter to Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood, it was stated that they described the claims that Ms Phillips’ term of office had been softened, despite evidence to the contrary, as ‘untrue’.

But in a stunning development this afternoon, it was revealed that five other members of the inquiry’s advisory board had threatened to leave if Ms Phillips was sacked.

It was reported that another woman using the pseudonym Gaia Cooper left the process, complaining that she “was not given support” and that the issue was used as a “political battering ram”.

Asked during this morning’s visit whether he trusted Ms Phillips to oversee the investigation, Sir Keir said: “Yes, of course I do.” ‘Jess has been working on issues related to violence against women and girls for many years.’

Health Minister Wes Streeting also gave strong support, saying there was “no one better for the job than Ms Phillips”.

Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood, pictured visiting the Peacehaven mosque today, said they still support Ms Phillips

Four women who left the investigation’s liaison team gave a harsh message amid allegations of ‘cover-up’

The conservation minister is so far supported by Keir Starmer and Ms Mahmood (pictured)

In the letter from the quartet of victims, Ellie-Ann Reynolds said the latest turning point for her was “an effort to shift the scope of responsibility and expand it to downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse.”

Ms Phillips told MPs on Tuesday that ‘allegations of deliberate delay, indifference or expansion and dilution of the scope of the investigation are false’.

But the four survivors said ‘evidence since then has proven we were telling the truth’.

Ms Reynolds, Fiona Goddard, Elizabeth Harper and a woman signed simply as ‘Jessica’ state in the letter that there are five conditions that must be met before they can return to the advisory panel.

As well as Ms Phillips’ resignation, it calls for “all survivors on the panel to be genuinely consulted about the appointment of a chair, which should be a former or sitting judge”, for victims to be able to speak freely without fear of retaliation, for the scope of the investigation to remain “laser focused” on gang grooming and for the current victim contact to be replaced by a mental health professional.

The survivor’s letter, shared on Ms Goddard’s account

‘This is a betrayal that destroys what little trust remains.

‘Every institution meant to protect us has failed us. We failed as children, we were failed by the police who didn’t believe us, we were failed by social services that blamed us, and we were failed by a system that protected our abusers.

‘We will not participate in an investigation that repeats the same patterns of dismissal, secrecy and corporate self-preservation.’

Despite the condemnation, Mr Streeting told BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour: ‘No one in Parliament has done more to tackle violence against women and girls than Jess.’

Asked if he should resign, he said: ‘No, I don’t think he should resign… I’m not ignoring what his critics have said and their criticism of the types of candidates that have been put forward, we take that seriously.

‘But there is no one better for the job than Jess Phillips, and there is no one in Parliament who is more committed to these issues than Jess Phillips.’

Five survivors on the panel warned the Prime Minister that they would only attend if Ms Phillips remained.

The group, which includes a woman who was abused in Oldham since she was 12, said Ms Phillips “dedicated her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who otherwise go unheard”.

“Jess Phillips MP remained neutral towards the process, only listening to feedback, we would like her to remain in office throughout the process for consistency,” the letter said.

‘His previous experience and drive to reduce violence against women (violence against women and girls) and his clear passion and commitment are important to us.’

Survivors said they want the scope to be broader than grooming gangs.

‘Jess was clear that the focus would be on reforming gangs, but explained that because the survivors in the group did not fit the general stereotype of what this was, they would be ostracized and should focus on CSE (child sexual abuse).’

The intervention underscores the government’s difficulties in launching the long-awaited investigation.

According to the Telegraph, Gaia Cooper said in a separate letter to NWG, the charity that liaises with victims, that she was not aligning herself with “any political agenda”.

He reportedly said, “We have been offered advice and support many times throughout this process, which I admit is still in its infancy, but nothing happened during this media storm and this is when I felt I needed it the most.” he wrote.

Another leading candidate to head the inquiry withdrew from the process yesterday due to the ‘toxic’ situation.

Former police officer Jim Gamble accused politicians of ‘prioritising their own petty personal or political issues’ and ‘playing games’ with the investigation.

In his withdrawal letter, he said he was withdrawing from the appointment process due to a ‘lack of trust’ in him among some survivors of grooming gangs ‘due to my previous profession’.

He then criticized those who ’caused mischief’, drawing attention to his former police career and said it was ‘nonsense’ to imply that he would ‘align with any political party to hide his mischief’.

It follows Annie Hudson, Lambeth’s former director of children’s services, who reportedly stood down on Tuesday.

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We are disappointed that the candidates to chair the inquiry have withdrawn. This is an extremely sensitive issue and we need to take the time to appoint the best person for this role.’

Fiona Goddard (pictured), who suffered at the hands of grooming gangs, resigned from the inquest’s victims and survivors liaison panel on Monday.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Keir Starmer stressed that the inquiry ‘has not been watered down and will never be watered down’ and its scope ‘will not change’.

He said: ‘We will examine the ethnicity and religion of the criminals and find the right person to lead the investigation.’

The Prime Minister also promised ‘injustice will have nowhere to hide’ in the House of Commons on Wednesday, announcing the enlistment of Baroness Louise Casey to support the investigation’s work.

Baroness Casey previously led a ‘national audit’ into group-based child sexual abuse, which uncovered ‘many examples’ of organizations avoiding discussing ‘ethnicity or cultural factors’ in such crimes ‘for fear of appearing racist’.