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A quartet of abuse survivors is demanding the resignation of Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips as part of their conditions for rejoining the grooming gangs inquiry. The four women have accused Phillips of “betrayal” following a letter in which she dismissed reports suggesting the inquiry’s scope could be broadened as “untrue.” They have also called for the removal of their victim liaison officer and urged for Phillips’ departure, asserting that this would demonstrate the government’s commitment to accountability. Additionally, they continue to advocate for a judge to chair the inquiry.
Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister has affirmed that Phillips retains the “full backing of the prime minister and home secretary” and will not be compelled to step down. The past week has been marked by turmoil, with Fiona Goddard and Ellie Reynolds resigning from the survivors’ panel on Monday, followed by two more survivors known as “Elizabeth” and “Jess” departing on subsequent days. Their departure letters highlighted concerns about the potential expansion of the inquiry beyond grooming gangs, strict controls on their interactions, and the perceived biases of potential chairs with ties to law enforcement and social services, in addition to expertise in addressing child abuse issues.
Despite Phillips’ efforts to clarify misinformation surrounding the inquiry, stating that delays in appointing a chair were not unusual for large public inquiries and did not indicate a cover-up, the four survivors remain irate. They express disappointment in having their concerns dismissed and contradicted by a government minister, feeling as though their credibility has been undermined. MacAlister reiterated the government’s support for Phillips, emphasizing her extensive background in advocating for victims of abuse and her engagement with the survivor community. Support for the inquiry’s current trajectory has been voiced by remaining survivors, including Samantha Walker-Roberts and Carly, who are hopeful that the raised concerns will lead to constructive improvements.
Former Northern Irish police chief Jim Gamble ruled himself out as a candidate to chair the inquiry, citing a lack of confidence from survivors due to his previous occupation and the politically charged environment within the inquiry. Despite expressing confidence in Phillips and refuting claims of efforts to dilute the inquiry’s focus, Gamble acknowledged the toxicity prevalent in social media discussions. The prime minister defended Phillips at Prime Minister’s Questions, highlighting her experience in dealing with violence against women and girls. He assured that the inquiry’s scope will not be altered, emphasizing the examination of offenders’ ethnicity and religion, and announced the involvement of Baroness Casey to support the inquiry’s work. Casey’s prior audit of group-based child sexual exploitation, which highlighted the ethnicity of perpetrators involved in grooming gangs, had prompted the inception of the national inquiry
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