Labour’s civil war over whether there should be an inquiry into child sexual grooming gangs was further exposed this morning, after Lisa Nandy slapped down calls by senior party colleagues.
The Culture Secretary rejected Andy Burnham’s intervention yesterday, after the Manchester mayor became the latesT figure to concede to pressure from the Tories and Reform.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Burnham said he believed there is scope for a “limited national inquiry”, which draws on previous investigations but joins up the dots to create a clearer picture of the national scandal.
He told the BBC: “I do think there is a case for limited national inquiry that draws on reviews like the one that I commissioned, the one I’ve seen in Rotherham, and the one we saw in Telford”.
This morning Lisa Nandy said she still opposes the call, arguing that the previous Jaye inquiry took seven years and many victims “said they didn’t really feel that any inquiry would result in action”.
“There were 20 recommendations from that inquiry, and the Conservative government didn’t implement a single one.
“I think it would be very hard to say to victims ‘we’re doing another inquiry when we haven’t implemented a single recommendation from the last’.
“Over the years we’ve had so many inquiries, every single one has found the same things: young girls are not believed because they’re young, because they’re female, and because they’re working class; and the systems that are supposed to protect them protect themselves instead.”
Ms Nandy’s opposition to Mr Burnham’s intervention came after Downing Street also slapped down his suggestion, insisting another inquiry would merely mean further “delay”.
The PM’s spokesman said: “It’s only reasonable for people to have a range of views, but his focus and the government’s focus is on action now, not more inquiries or delay.”
Mr Burnham said he felt “frustrated” that Westminster politicians had “taken no interest” in the issue when those reports were published.
Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman also backed Mr Burnham’s call for a ‘mini inquiry’ into the issues raised by the scandal.
She said Sir Keir should join with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to discuss the “terms of reference”.
She told Sky News: “I think that whether it’s a task force, whether it’s more action plans, whether it’s a mini inquiry on this, this is something that we need to develop resilience in”.
Ms Harman added there’s “always got to be an openness to further analysis, further consideration of what proposals would move things forward.”
Matt Vickers MP, Shadow Home Office Minister, said: “Labour were wrong to block the Conservative call for an inquiry into rape gangs.”
“Andy Burnham is just the latest voice now calling for Keir Starmer to change track and put the victims of this vile scandal first instead of his own pride.”