A Rotherham grooming gang survivor has condemned the Government’s newly announced local inquiries as “a whitewash” and “not enough at all”.
Elizabeth from Rotherham told GB News national reporter Charlie Peters that there was “nothing transparent” about the Home Secretary’s plans for local investigations.
Charlie revealed that the survivor said: “There is nothing transparent. I’m back to the fight again. It’s not enough at all.
“I’m sure we’re just hearing the same old stuff. They are taking part in covering the cover up once again.
Charlie Peters shared the victims response to the announcement
GB News
“I’m sick of hearing about that seven year inquiry, referring to the X report, my immediate reaction was that this is not compelling. It’s a whitewash. I do agree with Chris Philp, it’s inadequate.”
Her scathing assessment came within minutes of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s Commons statement announcing government-backed local inquiries into child sexual exploitation.
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The Home Secretary announced five new inquiries into grooming gangs, including one already agreed in Oldham, which will receive central government funding and support.
Tom Crowther KC, who led the 2022 Telford grooming gang inquiry, will serve as advisor to the investigations.
The announcement follows weeks of mounting pressure for action on child sexual exploitation, with several Labour MPs breaking ranks to demand broader investigations.
Cooper also revealed plans to encourage police forces to reopen cold cases and urged victims to come forward with historical cases.
Yvette Cooper made the announcement in the House of Commons today
House of Commons
The Home Secretary is writing to the National Police Chiefs Council requesting chief constables review previous gang exploitation cases where no further action was taken.
An additional £2million in funding will be provided to police, the task force and the child sexual abuse review panel.
However, GB News understands the inquiries will not have the power to summon witnesses to give evidence, despite calls from Rotherham MP Sarah Champion.
The evidence gathered will not be fed back to the Home Office for a national response.
Sarah Champion was a “more effective questioner” of Yvette Cooper than the Tories
PA
Champion, who proved “a more effective questioner” than the Conservative opposition, according to Charlie Peters, challenged Cooper on the budget constraints.
Charlie explained: “I’d say that she is actually a more effective questioner of Cooper there than the Tory opposition because she challenged Yvette Cooper on the cost. Telford alone cost 8 million, but there’s £5 million for the whole thing here.
“She also says we know this is happening nationally, but there are just five local reviews. How strange to see a Labour MP on the backbenches supporting a Tory opposition point.
“We know through GB News reporting and the court documents, everything that’s out in the open, that this has happened in up to 50 different towns and cities.”
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