Council chief welcomes grooming gang inquiry

TOWN HALL BOSS SAYS NATIONAL PROBE IS 'RIGHT AND PROPER'

- By JOSEPH ΤΙΜΑΝ

THE leader of Oldham council has welcomed Sir Keir Starmer's decision to launch a full national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Arooj Shah said it is 'right and proper' to hold the statutory probe which the Prime Minister announced on Saturday.

It comes after the government resisted calls to implement a full national inquiry, including a request from Oldham council last year.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham commissioned an independent review into historic child sexual exploitation in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale eight years ago. However, there was criticism of the inquiry's 'limited scope' into historic cases in Oldham.

This led to calls from opposition councillors for a government-led inquiry, but the request was repeatedly voted down by Labour.

Last year, when Labour lost its majority at Oldham council, its leader agreed to support calls for a national inquiry as part of deal.

Nevertheless, the government rejected the request, arguing that local inquiries would be more effective than a national probe.