Grooming gang inquiry: five abuse survivors back Phillips

Five survivors invited on to the child sexual exploitation inquiry panel have written to the prime minister to say they will continue working with the investigation only if the safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, remains in post.

- Geraldine McKelvie Rajeev Syal

The women have contacted Keir Starmer and the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, outlining conditions for their continued participation. They said Phillips had “devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard”.

One of the group, Samantha Walker-Roberts, who was abused in Oldham from the age of 12, has chosen to waive her right to anonymity. The other four have used pseudonyms and call themselves Scarlett, Caitlin, Claire and Katie.

The women said they wanted the inquiry to cover all types of sexual exploitation, including grooming gangs, and that “anyone who believes their evidence should be included” should have the chance to participate.

They said they believed Phillips had remained impartial and they wanted her to “remain in position for the duration of the process for consistency”.

They said: “She has offered some of us support prior to this process, helped survivors access services and help they would not have had without her. In consultation, we have asked for the scope to be larger than just grooming gangs, that was our right to input our opinions, which is the purpose of the panel.

“Jess was clear that the focus would be on grooming gangs. However, survivors in the group explained that they would be excluded for not fitting the generalised stereotype of what that is and should focus on CSE [child sexual exploitation].”