What’s next for the Grooming Gang Inquiry?

The last couple of weeks have seen survivors resigning from the Inquiry’s panel and two leading candidates for the chair withdrawing from consideration.

Jess Phillips, the Safeguarding Minister has also received calls to resign, following criticism of her handling of the survivors’ concerns.

The scope of the Inquiry is in question.

Some survivors are concerned that the remit of the inquiry is too wide, and that it will extend beyond grooming gangs to examine other forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation. They feel that this recommendation has been made precisely because the subject hasn’t been looked at before, and they feel offended by the question of taking a “broader approach.” Jess Phillips' letter stating that it is “plainly untrue that the Government is seeking to dilute the focus of the inquiry” has caused survivors to feel angry and disbelieved. 

One survivor who has resigned has wrote to the Home Secretary to say that “being publicly contradicted and dismissed by a government minister when you are a survivor telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again.”

Other survivors have said that Phillips must remain, and they would like all forms of child sexual exploitation to be within the inquiry’s scope including, but not exclusively, grooming gangs.

There has also been dissent over who should be selected as a Chair, and it may be difficult to find a suitable person who does not have a connection to one of the agencies that will be investigated.

The Inquiry would appear to be in crisis and urgent action needs to be taken by the Government.

The survivors’ confidence in the process is quickly evaporating and unless there is a swift turnaround survivors will not engage. 

This Inquiry is long overdue, but it must be handled with sensitivity, safely and with survivors at its centre. 

I think what is clear, contrary to Mr Farage’s press conference on Monday 27th October 2025, is that survivors want an Inquiry that is independent of the Government. A Select Committee Investigation or a Parliament Wide Commission is not appropriate.

Given that the survivors have been abused in the past, usually by a person in authority and more powerful than them, it is understandable that they don’t want the scope to be decided by Government alone. They don’t want to feel controlled or that they are unable to express their views and opinions.

The test will be whether all these issues can be resolved whilst retaining the confidence of the survivors. Despite what has happened over the last couple of weeks it doesn’t mean that the Inquiry should not take place. 

Whilst there are issues to resolve and mistakes to rectify, the Government can and should explain their handling of the Inquiry and work with survivors to ensure that the Inquiry provides survivors with the trust and justice they deserve.