Candidate favoured to chair grooming gang probe quits

A second candidate lined up to chair the grooming gang inquiry has withdrawn after survivors raised concerns that he had links to the police.

- CAITLIN DOHERTY POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Jim Gamble, a former police officer in Northern Ireland, hit out at politicians prioritising “their own petty personal or political issues” and “playing games” with the inquiry as he took his name out of the running yesterday, plunging the probe into further chaos.

In outspoken comments, Mr Gamble blamed people “using and abusing” their position for victims being “disrespected and misinformed” over the investigation, which has been hit by allegations of a cover-up.

He later criticised those “who have been mischief-making” by highlighting his former police career, saying it was “nonsense” to imply that he would align himself “with any political party to hide their blushes”.

Mr Gamble’s withdrawal came a day after Annie Hudson, another candidate for the role who was a former director of children’s services for Lambeth, removed her name, leaving the government scrambling for alternatives.

Sir Keir Starmer had earlier announced that he was drafting in Louise Casey to “support” the work of the struggling probe after four women from the inquiry’s victims and survivors panel resigned, stating a “toxic environment”. They also claimed there were proposals to widen the scope of the inquiry, which the Home Office has denied.