The 20 Labour MPs under most pressure to break ranks on grooming gangs – is yours one?

Thousands of constituents in these areas, no doubt rocked by news of local grooming gangs’ abuse, are demanding the government hold an inquiry into this terrible injustice.

Recently, a YouGov survey found more than three-quarters of the British public back a national inquiry.

As their representative in parliament, the MPs for each of these areas will be feeling nervous about defying so many outraged constituents, particularly as they were elected on thin majorities.

It comes as politicians face mounting criticism for not pursuing further inquiries after previous investigations, including the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, were slammed as inadequate.

Survivors and advocacy groups have expressed dissatisfaction with the glacial pace of change following the inquiry and the lack of comprehensive action that followed.

GB News’ national reporter Charlie Peters, who has been at the forefront of reporting on the grooming gangs scandal for weeks, has slammed the report for being too narrow.

Other glaring errors Peters uncovered with the report include key evidence being redacted and grooming gangs being lumped in with other abuse networks when issues such as abuse in the Church of England or online got their own inquiries.

Speaking on GB News after the Common’s vote, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused Labour of being “out of touch” and in “total denial” over the public interest in an inquiry.

He added: “This is the biggest conversation that is going on in family homes, in pubs, in clubs all over the country. People are outraged.”

What have the three Labour MPs who have called for an inquiry said?

Two Labour MPs have categorically backed an inquiry so far. They are Dan Carden, MP for Liverpool Walton, who said: “The public compassion for the victims, thousands of young British working-class girls and children is real. The public call for justice must be heeded.

“It is shocking that people in positions of power could have covered up and refused to act to avoid confronting racial or cultural issues or because victims were poor and working-class.

“We must question and challenge the orthodoxy of progressive liberal multiculturalism that led to authorities failing to act. We need a new doctrine to take our multi-ethnic society into the future.”

The second is Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, who said: “Having worked widely with victims and survivors, and frontline professionals, I have long believed that we need to fully understand the nature of this crime and the failures in the response of public bodies if we are to truly protect children.

“It is clear that nothing less than a national inquiry into the failings of those in authority to both prevent, and be accountable for their failings, in relation to grooming gangs will restore the faith in our safeguarding systems.”

Paul Waugh, MP for Rochdale, backed an inquiry with caveats. He said: “I’m not against a national enquiry but it has got to have some key caveats.

“First, is it supported by victims because they are the people who have told their stories and it took a lot of bravery to tell those stories?”

“They fought for justice for many years, are they going to have to re-experience their trauma every time they explain this?

“They have done this time and time again.”

The government insists that a new inquiry would take years and is not necessary so soon after the last investigation into the issue.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government was looking at implementing recommendations from 2022’s IICSA Report instead.

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Full list of Labour MPs under most pressure to break ranks on grooming gangs inquiry