Councillors in Oldham voted unanimously to demand a statutory public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in the town.
It comes months after GB News revealed that a Government-led inquiry was turned down by ministers.
The motion calling for a statutory inquiry, which would compel witnesses to give evidence, was passed unanimously – a decision councillors said they were “delighted” at.
Councillor Lewis Quigg told GB News: “Whilst this is the end of the beginning in Oldham, it is not the end of this national scandal. Oldham Council after 6 years will demand of the government a full national public inquiry into the rape gangs.
“Not only that, the Council agreed unanimously to also demand that the local inquiry is given full statutory powers. Which it currently does not have. That means that those in a position of power, responsibility, or authority who failed our children cannot hide or escape from any investigation. They will and must be held to account.”
Cllr Abdul Wahid told the People’s Channel: “I am delighted that once more the people of Oldham have spoken loud and clear. All communities are united in our pursuit to root out vile predators from our communities.”
It comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced five Government-backed local inquiries into grooming gangs last month during a Commons statement.
Cooper argued that “effective local inquiries can delve into far more local detail and deliver more locally relevant answers, and change, than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide”.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Some councillors said they were ‘delighted’ at the result of the vote (file pic)
Oldham Council
She said that this would begin by working with Oldham Council and four other areas. They would receive £5m of an overall £10m package to “get work off the ground”.
However, she stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry, a move which Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said was “wholly inadequate”.
Last month, GB News revealed that the Government formally rejected repeated requests for a Home Office-led inquiry, insisting that there is no need for a new inquiry as it could delay action on tackling child sexual abuse.
Oldham Council has asked for a fresh inquiry into the abuse scandal “at the request of local survivors who felt that what our previous review into social care practice lacked was an opportunity for them to have their voices heard, their individual experiences looked at”, according to council leader Arooj Shah.
Last month, Cooper announced five Government-backed local inquiries into grooming gangs
PA
However, four months later in October, this request was rejected by the Government.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips apologised at the time for the almost four-month delay in responding to the survivor-led request.
Phillips confirmed that she did not speak to survivors before denying their request for a Government-led inquiry.
