Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) has insisted "injustice will have no place to hide" in the grooming gangs inquiry, announcing that Dame Louise Casey will support its work. The Prime Minister defended the inquiry at Prime Minister's Questions following the resignation of four women from the victims and survivors panel.
Starmer told MPs the inquiry would not be "watered down" and its scope would remain unchanged. He said: "It will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders, and we will find the right person to chair the inquiry."
The Prime Minister declared: "I can tell the house today, Mr Speaker, that Dame Louise Casey will now support the work of the inquiry, and it will get to the truth. Injustice will have no place to hide."
Casey brings decades of troubleshooting experience
Dame Louise Casey's appointment marks the latest role for a woman who has acted as a government troubleshooter for much of the last three decades. The former victims' commissioner previously led a "national audit" of group-based child sexual exploitation, published in June 2025.
Her findings revealed "many examples" of organisations avoiding discussion of "ethnicity or cultural factors" in such offences "for fear of appearing racist". Casey's report prompted Starmer to order the creation of the national inquiry.
Casey's extensive background includes leading efforts to tackle homelessness and anti-social behaviour under Sir Tony Blair's government. She became the country's first victims' commissioner in 2010 and conducted a review of standards in the Metropolitan Police following Sarah Everard's murder by a serving officer in 2021.
Survivors voice concerns over process
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch spoke on behalf of Fiona Goddard, one of the resigned panel members. She quoted Goddard saying: "Being dismissed and contradicted by a minister when you're telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again."
Badenoch added: "Fiona's question is simple: 'What's the point in speaking up if we're just going to be called liars?'" Two survivors, Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds, resigned on Monday citing concerns about a "toxic environment", with two unnamed women following on Tuesday.
The women expressed concerns over attempts to widen the inquiry's scope and the candidates being considered to chair it. One candidate was reportedly a former police chief and another a social worker, though Annie Hudson, a former director of children's services for Lambeth, has reportedly withdrawn her candidacy following recent media coverage.
Government moves to reassure critics
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood insisted on Tuesday night that the inquiry's scope "will not change". Cabinet minister Emma Reynolds had earlier apologised to survivors, saying she was "sorry if they felt let down by the process".
Goddard told Times Radio that Mahmood's comments had been "reassuring". However, she reiterated her call for safeguarding minister Jess Phillips to resign over comments disputing allegations that the inquiry was being watered down.
Goddard said: "My problem is there is little to no recognition of what Jess Phillips did today by nationally calling me a liar when she knew I was telling the truth. I think that there needs to be an apology, swiftly followed by Jess Phillips' resignation."
PM defends Phillips and Casey partnership
Starmer defended Phillips in the Commons, saying she has "probably more experience than any other person in this House in dealing with violence against women and girls". The Prime Minister added that alongside Casey, these two individuals have "spent decades standing up for those who have been abused and sexually exploited".
Casey's appointment builds on her track record of conducting sensitive reviews, including a 2014 examination of Rotherham Council's children's services following a separate inquiry into the local authority's handling of child sexual abuse. Starmer said the "door will always be open" should the four women who resigned wish to return to the panel.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
