After declining to conduct a public investigation into the historical sexual abuse committed by grooming groups in Oldham, Labour has come under pressure.
A thorough national investigation into rape gangs is “long overdue,” according to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, while Elon Musk denounced the move as “disgraceful.”
Labour’s safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, said that the decision to investigate claims of abuse between 2011 and 2014 was “for Oldham council alone.”
In the face of reported grooming by “predominantly Pakistani offenders” in council houses, shisha bars, and taxi drivers, a 2022 investigation revealed that Oldham’s child protection services had failed to safeguard the youngsters.
Last year, the Labour party on Oldham Council decided to support an independent investigation and wrote to Ms. Phillips twice to ask the Home Office to back this effort.
