"A minister has said the government has full confidence in Jess Phillips after four abuse survivors called for her resignation as a condition for their participation in the national grooming gangs inquiry. The crisis engulfing the inquiry deepened on Wednesday as the four survivors accused Phillips of betrayal and said she was unfit to oversee a process that requires survivors to trust the government. But a government minister insisted on Thursday that Phillips would stay in post as safeguarding minister,"
"Ministers are scrambling to get to grips with the inquiry and find a new chair to lead it after both candidates they had identified former social worker Annie Hudson and former police officer Jim Gamble withdrew this week. Phillips has come under fire from survivors amid claims that the government sought to broaden the scope of the inquiry from grooming gangs to other forms of child abuse for political reasons."
Four abuse survivors demanded Jess Phillips' resignation as a condition for participating in the national grooming gangs inquiry, accusing her of betrayal and saying she was unfit to oversee a process requiring survivor trust. A government minister said the government has full confidence in Phillips and she will remain safeguarding minister. Children's minister Josh MacAlister said she has full backing from the prime minister and home secretary and has engaged with the survivor community. Two prospective inquiry chairs, Annie Hudson and Jim Gamble, withdrew this week. Critics allege the government sought to broaden the inquiry's scope for political reasons, and debate continues over leadership and survivor confidence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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