Search for new grooming inquiry head will ‘take months’

The search for a new chair of the grooming gang inquiry is expected to take months after the process was thrown into chaos when two leading candidates pulled out, the BBC understands.

Sources told the BBC the government would move “as fast as possible” but were looking to “re-engage with the victims and survivors” to get their views on who should lead the inquiry.

It comes after four members quit the inquiry’s survivors panel and called for Safeguarding Minister Jess Philips to resign, accusing her of “betrayal” for denying claims the investigation might be broadened.

Multiple sources have told the BBC the government are determined to keep Phillips in post.

Another five abuse survivors have written to the prime minister to say they will only continue to work with the inquiry if Phillips keeps her job.

There were, originally, 30 people on the panel the BBC understands – more than has been previously reported.

On Wednesday, former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) Centre Jim Gamble ruled himself out of leading the grooming gang inquiry.

The ex-police officer said political “point-scoring” had created a “highly charged and toxic environment”.

Mr Gambles withdrawal came only a day after ex-Lambeth children’s services director Annie Hudson pulled out following intense media coverage

A government source told the BBC “urgent steps” were being take “to ensure a new candidate is found”.

“The government will now re-engage with the victims and survivors – to listen to their concerns and take their opinions on the type of person they want to lead the inquiry,” the BBC was told.

We “will move as fast as possible, but must also take the time, likely months, to appoint the right chair,” a source added.

Sir Keir announced a national inquiry into the sexual exploitation of children by grooming gangs in England and Wales in June.

The PM said the inquiry would have the power to compel witnesses to be questioned and would be guided by a panel of survivors, which the BBC understands had at least 20 members at the start.

But there has been turmoil over the past week, with Fiona Goddard and Ellie Reynolds quitting the survivors panel in the inquiry on Monday, and two more known as “Elizabeth” and “Jess” following them on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Senior figures in government are acutely aware that the victims of sexual abuse have been repeatedly and profoundly let down by multiple agencies of the state – and so establishing trust is incredibly difficult.

“Upset and vulnerable people hit out when they are in pain, and that is entirely understandable,” one figure told the BBC.

The panel members, we are told, are of a range of views and instincts – on their willingness or not to speak out, on their views on those who chose to do so or not, and on who should chair the inquiry and how it should be run.

Multiple sources in government are making it clear there is a widespread determination – from Downing Street and the Home Office – to keep Phillips in her post.

The issue was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, when Sir Keir invited the four who had quit to re-join and sought to reassure them that “I want to get this right”, despite the difficulties when “every survivor does bring their own painful experience to this”.

“The inquiry is not and will never be watered down. Its scope will not change. It will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders and we will find the right person to chair the inquiry,” he told MPs.

However, there was still palpable fury from the group, who penned a group letter calling for Phillips to resign because she had broken a fragile trust.

Now, a second group of survivors, headed by Samantha Walker-Roberts, has written to Sir Keir and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood with a list of seven conditions for their continued support, including Phillips continuing in her role.

“Jess Phillips has remained impartial to the process, only listening to feedback [and] we want her to remain in position for the duration of the process for consistency,” they wrote.

“Her previous experience and drive to reduce VAWG [violence against women and girls] and her clear passion and commitment is important to us.”

They praised Phillips, who they said had “devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would otherwise have been unheard” and had helped some of them access support.

Earlier today, the first group called on Phillips to quit in order to restore trust in the inquiry, accusing her of “betrayal” for describing reports the scope of the inquiry could be widened as “untrue”.

Headed up by Fiona Goddard, the group of four said they would only re-join it if the minister went, because they had “raised legitimate concerns around the inquiry’s direction” but “in response, your safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips called our accounts untrue”.

Another survivor, known as Carly, from Huddersfield, told the BBC she wanted to remain part of the inquiry, but she also believes Phillips should go, because “she can’t lie about what we all know” around the question of whether to widen the inquiry’s scope.