Grooming gang inquiry in turmoil as survivors quit panel

Two survivors have resigned from the oversight panel of the goverment’s national grooming gang inquiry and accused the Home Office and Labour of “contempt” and “political interference” before it has appointed a chair.

- Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Ellie-Ann Reynolds and Fiona Goddard resigned from the panel yesterday, complaining of “condescending and controlling language used towards survivors”.

Two prospective candidates to chair the inquiry, the former deputy chief constable Jim Gamble and the chair of the child safeguarding practice review panel, Annie Hudson, are due to meet the panel on Tuesday.

Reynolds, from Barrow, Cumbria, said in a statement: “The Home Office held meetings we weren’t told about, made decisions we could not question and withheld information that directly affected our work. When I asked for clarity, I was treated with contempt and ignored.”

Goddard, who was abused whilst living in a children’s home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, made a series of criticisms against the way the inquiry was being handled - including perceived conflicts of interest.

The terms of the inquiry are still being discussed by the panel of stakeholders including survivors of abuse rings, four months after the prime minister, Keir Starmer, bowed to pressure and set it up.