Andy Burnham Calls for a “Limited” Inquiry, Citing Limitations of Local Investigations
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has voiced support for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, arguing for a “limited” investigation that would address broader national concerns. Burnham stated that the local inquiry he initiated in Oldham lacked the necessary legal powers to make significant progress on the issue.
Earlier this week, Members of Parliament rejected a proposal to include a national inquiry into the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Had the amendment passed, it would have introduced new measures to safeguard children while tightening regulations around home schooling.
The vote came after intense criticism from billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer and the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips. His criticisms followed the revelation that Phillips had declined a request for a public inquiry into exploitation in Oldham, made by the local council.
Although government ministers, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have indicated their openness to discussions about a potential inquiry, they have stressed that their primary focus is addressing the recommendations of the 2022 report on child sexual abuse, led by Professor Alexis Jay.
In a statement on BBC Radio Manchester, Burnham expressed his belief that a more focused national inquiry would be beneficial, one that could examine the findings of previous local reviews in areas like Oldham, Rotherham, and Telford. Such an inquiry, Burnham explained, could compel individuals to provide evidence and potentially face charges for their involvement in these cases.
The mayor pointed out that the local reviews he had commissioned in Manchester, Oldham, and Rochdale were constrained in their impact due to a lack of legal authority to compel evidence or participation from key individuals.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy acknowledged Burnham’s viewpoint in an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain. She agreed that a smaller, national inquiry could investigate matters that were beyond the reach of Burnham’s local review. However, she disagreed with the need for a new national inquiry, citing the seven-year investigation established by former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2014. Nandy noted that this inquiry had already established that vulnerable young girls were often ignored by authorities due to their gender, class, and age.
The national inquiry, which concluded in October 2022 with a report by Professor Alexis Jay, found widespread failures in the way victims were treated. On Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the government would begin implementing Jay’s recommendation for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, with further details to follow in the coming weeks.
