Justice minister Sarah Sackman has insisted victims can have confidence in the national grooming gangs inquiry despite two survivors quitting their roles on Monday. The resignations have cast doubt over the government's handling of the probe into child sexual abuse.
Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds resigned from the inquiry's victims and survivors liaison panel, levelling heavy criticism at the Home Office. Both women cited serious concerns about the process and the candidates being considered to chair the inquiry.
Goddard accused officials of "secretive conduct" with instances of "condescending and controlling language" used towards survivors. She described a "toxic, fearful environment" and warned of a "high risk of people feeling silenced all over again".
Government Under Pressure
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick (Conservative) said the resignations "cast a real shadow over the Government's efforts" to set up the inquiry. He told BBC Breakfast that ministers must "grip this" situation immediately.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told Sir Keir Starmer to "grow a backbone" and "do everything possible to ensure criminal investigations run in parallel now, across the entire system". The Opposition criticism has intensified pressure on the Prime Minister over the inquiry's progress.
Sackman defended the government's approach, telling PA Media that victims "can have confidence" in the process. She emphasised that "this Government has acted in ordering a national inquiry" and said they were "taking our time to choose the best possible chair to ensure that our response is robust".
Concerns Over Chair Selection
Reynolds specifically criticised attempts to "change the remit, to widen it in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse". She said: "For many of us, these were not incidental factors; they were central to why we were targeted and why institutions failed to act."
Both women expressed concern about the shortlisted candidates to chair the inquiry - reportedly a former police chief and a social worker. Goddard called this "a disturbing conflict of interest" and feared it would negatively impact survivor engagement with the inquiry.
Jenrick suggested the inquiry should be chaired by a senior judge with experience of family and criminal law, possibly from another country. He argued this would avoid connections to police or social services that could undermine confidence.
Official Response
A Home Office spokesperson denied suggestions the inquiry was being "watered down", calling such claims "completely wrong". They said the government was "committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for".
The resignations add pressure on the government to finalise the inquiry, first announced in June. Home Office minister Jess Phillips said last month the chair appointment was in its "final stages", while Downing Street said the government was working "flat out to get the right chair in place".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
