Labour’s grooming gangs inquiry is plunged into chaos: Potential chairwoman pulls out as third abuse survivor quits panel

A candidate to lead an investigation into grooming gangs has withdrawn because Labour’s plan was ‘throwing into chaos’.

The departure of senior social worker Annie Hudson comes after three victims of child sexual abuse resigned from the liaison committee attached to the inquiry, citing a ‘toxic and fearful environment’.

The Daily Mail understands there are a number of candidates left in the race for the job, including former senior police officer Jim Gamble.

It is not known why Ms Hudson withdrew her application to chair the inquiry.

But it came a day after abuse victims Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds resigned from the inquiry’s victims and survivors liaison panel, drawing heavy criticism of the Home Office.

Today, it emerged that a third woman, identified only as ‘Elizabeth’ due to anonymity rules imposed on sexual abuse victims, has also said she will no longer participate in the competition.

In her resignation letter, Elizabeth said the process appeared to be a ‘cover-up’ and ‘created a toxic environment’ for survivors.

Ms Goddard has previously said the process has so far included ‘condescending and controlling language’ and ‘secretive behaviour’ used towards survivors.

In his resignation letter, he also described a ‘toxic, fear-filled environment’ and a ‘high risk of people feeling silenced again’.

Ms Reynolds said the ‘final turning point’ that led her to resign was ‘an effort to change the mandate, to broaden it to downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse’.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the investigation into the gangs was ‘thrown into chaos’ and repeated his call for a judge to be appointed to oversee the process.

Bradford gang abuse victim Fiona Goddard resigned from a panel attached to the national inquiry into the scandal, accusing the Home Office of watering down the incident

Mr Philp said the Government was ‘forced’ to announce the investigation following allegations that abuses by Pakistani grooming gangs were covered up by local authorities and authorities, including the police, failed to act.

He told MPs: ‘Perhaps that is why, after months, the Government has said nothing concrete to the public and its investigations are falling into chaos.

‘What we have heard publicly is that the victims and survivors in the liaison team do not trust the Government and the investigation.’

After saying it was “devastating” that the majority of perpetrators were of Pakistani origin, he said Sabah Kaiser, the liaison officer on the investigation, should not have any other role.

Mr Philp told the House of Commons: ‘Victims and survivors have also questioned the suitability of former police officers or social workers to chair the inquiry.

‘They don’t believe people are suitable for the professions that have failed them so much.

‘So will the Minister accept this feedback and appoint a judge to conduct the investigation?

‘Will the Minister confirm, as both Fiona (Goddard) and Ellie-Ann (Reynolds) have said, that the scope of this investigation will not be narrowed and will focus on the cover-up of the rape gang scandal, as the majority of the perpetrators were of Pakistani origin?’

Responding to Mr Philp’s urgent question in the House of Commons, protection minister Jess Phillips said: ‘Not all victims and survivors agree.

‘They are not a homogeneous group of people who all think the same thing, who all want the same exposure, who all want their identities known.’

He added: ‘The appointment of the Presidency is at a critical stage and we hope to confirm its outcome soon.’

Ms Phillips said she ‘absolutely regretted’ the two survivors quitting their roles.

The Minister added: ‘I will meet with all victims, regardless of their opinion, I will listen to those reported in the press, those who are the subject of panels, I will always listen and talk to all of them.

‘Allegations of deliberate delay, indifference or expansion of the scope of the investigation and dilution are false.’

‘Victims and survivors are meeting with possible presidents this week, actually today,’ he added.

Downing Street said the Government was ‘working hard to get the right chair in place’ and that survivors were ‘at the heart of what we do’.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman denied the investigation was in crisis, telling reporters: ‘No. The grooming gangs scandal, as we said before, was one of the biggest failures in our country’s history. Vulnerable young people have been let down time and time again.

‘We work with victims from across the country, listening to their individual experiences, to ultimately deliver justice.

‘While we all want to continue to launch the investigation, our priority is to get this right.

‘I would like to take you back to Professor Alexis Jay’s original child sexual abuse inquiry, which saw three chairs withdrawn before her appointment in 2016, two years after it began.

‘And we are determined not to let the victims down again.’

Asked about allegations that the scope of the investigation could be widened from a focus on grooming gangs, the official said: ‘The terms of the investigation will be determined when we appoint a chairman.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.

‘Any suggestion that this investigation has been watered down is completely false; We are committed to delivering a robust, comprehensive investigation that will lead to the truth and provide the answers survivors have long fought for.’