"Keir Starmer's grooming gangs inquiry has descended into fresh turmoil after the only remaining candidate to be its chair blamed political opportunism and a lack of trust for his withdrawal as an applicant. As a key survivor called for a face-to-face meeting with the prime minister to save the inquiry, Jim Gamble, a former deputy chief constable, said the process to appoint a committee head was toxic and defined by vested interests."
"It comes after four survivors invited on to an inquiry panel resigned over two days and accused the UK government of attempting to manipulate them into broadening it to include other forms of sexual abuse. One of those survivors, Fiona Goddard, told the Guardian she wanted face-to-face talks with Starmer so he could understand abuse victims' experiences and their demands for a judge-led inquiry."
"Gamble, a former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and of the RUC special branch in Belfast, was one of two known leading candidates for the role. The other, Annie Hudson, who was once the head of children's services at Lambeth, said on Tuesday she no longer wanted to be considered after intense media coverage."
The grooming gangs inquiry has been destabilised by the withdrawal of leading candidates and the resignation of invited survivors. Four survivors resigned over two days, accusing the government of trying to broaden the inquiry to include other forms of sexual abuse. Jim Gamble withdrew from the chair appointment process, citing lack of confidence among survivors and describing the process as toxic and influenced by vested interests. Annie Hudson also stepped back after intense media attention. Survivors demand face-to-face meetings with the prime minister and are calling for a judge-led inquiry. Louise Casey will be brought in as an adviser amid the turmoil.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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