Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, has denied claims of a cover-up after three abuse survivors resigned from the victims and survivors liaison panel for the national grooming gang inquiry. The panel was set up to advise the inquiry ordered by Keir Starmer.
Annie Hudson, a former director of children’s services for Lambeth and one of two candidates shortlisted to lead the inquiry, withdrew from the process on Tuesday. She told survivors she no longer wanted to be considered after intense media coverage.
Her decision leaves Jim Gamble, a former head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary special branch in Belfast, as the only known candidate. Home Office sources said other candidates were still being considered, with final interviews being conducted this week.
The three survivors—Fiona Goddard, Ellie Reynolds, and “Elizabeth”—resigned from the panel, accusing the Home Office and ministers of sidelining them and manipulating the agenda. They claimed the inquiry’s scope was being widened to downplay racial and religious motivations behind the abuse.
Phillips told MPs she regretted the departures and would continue to speak to the survivors. She insisted the government was “committed to exposing the failures” to tackle “these appalling crimes”.
