Stockton Council has voted in favour of a national grooming gangs scandal, with the Labour-run authority breaking with the Government’s position against a public investigation.
The council will now write to the Government requesting a full public inquiry into grooming gangs after it was voted for 29-21 on Wednesday.
The motion calls on the council “to outline the council’s desire for the government to enact a full public inquiry into grooming gangs.”
All Labour councillors voted against the motion, with one not present. Conservative and independent councillors ensured it was voted through.
Stockton Council has voted in favour of a national grooming gangs scandal, with the Labour-run authority breaking with the Government’s position against a public investigation
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Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen told GB News: “I fully back calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal – and support Stockton Council, a Labour run authority, in their efforts to challenge the Government.
“There have been many failures by many public institutions that need a proper investigation and a failure to have a national inquiry would further let victims down who deserve justice.
“This can never be allowed to happen again.”
In reaction to the vote, Conservative group leader Cllr Tony Riordan said: “A national inquiry will lift the lid on the full extent of this national scandal and provide scrutiny to ensure we get to the full truth and fight for every child.”
The vote on Teesside has been followed by Wigan Council also backing a motion for a national grooming gangs inquiry.
The council, which is also Labour-run, voted unanimously in favour of the motion brought by independent councillor Maureen O’Bern.
In her speech, the independent politician said: “Only a statutory full national enquiry can get justice for those girls, and detect and punish the perpetrators and those who covered up for them.”
In remarks seen by GB News, Cllr O’Bern read out the sentencing remarks from 2013 jailing of one of the Oxford abuse gangs.
After outlining the horrifying details in that case, which the judge said amounted to torture, the councillor said: “This is the truth about the grooming gangs, and why we need a full national enquiry.”
