GROOMING GANG PROBE 'RIGGED FROM THE START'

As Reform demands MPs take over rape scandal inquiry, one victim blasts:

- By Martyn Brown and Katie Harris

GROOMING gangs survivor Ellie-Ann Reynolds slammed Labour's stalled national inquiry into the scandal, claiming it was "rigged from the start".

Ms Reynolds, inset, one of five victims to quit the probe's advisory panel, accused the Home Office of "gaslighting and manipulating" them.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage declared the official inquiry "dead in the water" and demanded Parliament sets up its own, branding the proliferation of rape gangs a "stain on Britain".

The Reform leader also claimed there was "strong evidence that [the abuse] is still continuing" after the scandal was brushed aside by politicians, police and councils who feared being labelled racist.

He will today ask Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to launch a cross-party inquiry into the abuse with the power to summon witnesses under oath.

Mr Farage singled out London as "maybe the last major grooming gang scandal to come to light" following a bombshell investigation by the Daily Express.

Our findings persuaded the Metropolitan Police to review 9,000 potential cases in the capital after London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was accused of covering up the issue.

Ms Reynolds is now demanding that Sir Sadiq steps down.

The mayor has defended himself, claiming he has "asked the Met to leave no stone unturned in pursuing justice for victims”.

In January Sir Sadiq was asked how many rape gangs the capital had. He responded: "The situation in London in relation to young people being groomed is different to other parts of the country. What we have in London is young people being groomed to use your word, not mine to be used in county lines." At a press conference yesterday, Mr Farage said: "Has he failed grooming gang victims? Yes, he's been denying that they're going on in London. The Met have been denying there's grooming going on in London.