Lee Anderson MP Gives Update on The Rape Gang Inquiry

I want to be clear that my Reform UK colleagues and I support a full statutory inquiry into the evil rape gangs. We have made repeated calls to the Government for action on this. The survivors deserve answers and to finally see action against the perpetrators of these horrific crimes and the institutions which failed them. I have regularly spoken to survivors about their experiences and what it is that they want to see out of a inquiry into the rape gangs.

The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is being set up to address systemic failures in how institutions responded to child sexual exploitation committed by grooming gangs which has caused serious and long-lasting harm to victims and survivors. The inquiry will take 3 years.

Last Thursday I attended a cross party meeting with Baroness Anne Longfield CBE who will chair the Inquiry, alongside panel members Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE.

On behalf of the thousands of victims of these awful crimes I will be meeting with the panel every quarter for an update, this is something I requested as Reform UK MPs are not allowed on the Select Committees which will also scrutinise this inquiry.

Since being elected I have meet with victims and their families and now I sincerely hope we can get the justice they deserve.

Our primary concern is that any inquiry is structured and conducted in a way which is legally robust and extensive. In other words, any inquiry into this scandal must have the proper powers to compel evidence and witnesses to be brought forward. Independent inquiries, like Rupert Lowe’s, do not have these necessary powers. This means there’ll be significant gaps in how agencies engage with it and the amount of time spent on the inquiry, but we need a much wider, comprehensive look at the extent of the institutional failings which led to years of cover up.

A statutory inquiry will also have full powers to enforce any recommendations and action points which emerge, including prosecutions of those who were either directly involved or complicit.

Of course, I'm pleased that the rape gang scandal is now receiving media and political attention, but more needs to be done and we cannot allow for survivors to be used as political footballs.

There is broad cross-Party consensus that this inquiry needs to happen and it’s about time this Labour Government stopped dragging its feet. Earlier this week, I attended the preliminary meeting on the statutory inquiry on behalf of Reform UK, with Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as the chair of the inquiry.

On behalf of the thousands of victims of these awful crimes, I will be meeting with the panel every quarter for an update. This is something I requested as a Reform UK MP as Reform UK MPs are not allowed on the Select Committees which will also scrutinise this inquiry. The inquiry is set to last 3 years.

Rest assured that I will hold the Government to account to ensure that this inquiry puts the voices of victims first and is treated with the seriousness it deserves. No more cover-ups or pandering to certain communities, the survivors deserve justice.