Supporting the Government to protect vulnerable children from abuse 

This is a sensitive and important issue, and one which must be dealt with utmost seriousness, bearing in mind the trauma and injustice suffered by victims and survivors.

The crimes committed by grooming gangs are horrific. Young girls were abused in the most cruel and sadistic way. Victims and the community need to know that all steps are taken to deliver justice and protect children properly in the future.

The Government has supported and continues to support independent inquiries held at a local level into these events, including the one commissioned by Andy Burnham into child sexual abuse in Oldham.

In 2022, Professor Alexis Jay’s independent report into child sexual abuse made a number of recommendations, having been set up on a statutory basis after the mishandling of allegations of child sexual abuse in Rotherham.

These recommendations included mandatory reporting of claims of child sexual abuse, a single set of core data relating to child sexual abuse, and a ban on the use of pain compliance techniques on children in custodial institutions.

The Government is focusing on implementing these recommendations, and Professor Jay has recently said that holding a fresh inquiry would get in the way of implementing these recommendations.

I believe that Professor Jay’s inquiry provided robust recommendations which best serve the needs of victims. I do not believe that the amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proposed by the Opposition does this.

Given the importance of this issue, I made sure to attend the recent statement by the Home Secretary on child sexual exploitation and abuse. I was struck by the outcomes reported in this statement of the inquiry which took place in Telford which put victims and survivors at the centre of their recommendations, and fully support these recommendations going forward.

I believe certain actors have chosen to politicise these events without consideration for the victims and survivors of this abuse. I condemn these actions in the strongest terms possible, and fully support the letter from the victims of gender-based violence, including the victims of the Telford grooming gangs, which expressed their support for Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, saying “no one in public life who has done more to support victims and survivors and to advocate for their interests”, and condemning those who “weaponise our pain for their own ends or political gain”.

Looking forward, I will continue to support the safeguarding of children against sexual abuse, and will look with interest to the Government’s implementation of Professor Jay’s report.