Labour is facing a wave of outrage after it decided to let local councils decide whether to investigate grooming gangs — a move critics say is a betrayal of thousands of victims and a shameful sidestep of responsibility.
Jess Phillips, the so-called Safeguarding Minister, has confirmed that councils will need to apply for funding to carry out investigations, rather than launching a national statutory inquiry with proper power and oversight. That decision has sparked anger, especially in communities still reeling from years of abuse and silence, reported the Express.
The backlash is particularly fierce because many of the councils being asked to lead the investigations are the same ones accused of failing victims in the first place. Places like Rotherham, where over 1,400 girls — some as young as 11 — were systematically abused, are now expected to lead the charge for justice.
Critics say this isn’t just a case of inaction — it’s a deliberate move to avoid upsetting parts of Labour’s voting base in areas with large Muslim populations, where some of the grooming gang offenders had roots. For many, it feels like the safety of vulnerable, working-class British girls is being weighed against political convenience.
And despite years of reports, reviews, and shocking headlines, not a single official has ever been prosecuted for the cover-ups. No police chiefs. No councillors. No senior public servants. The people who were supposed to protect these girls have yet to face consequences.
Instead of launching a serious, nationwide inquiry, Labour has announced a vague £5 million fund — but it’s optional. Councils can choose whether they want to investigate. There’s no mandatory oversight, no central accountability, and no guarantee that anything meaningful will come of it.
For victims, campaigners, and communities, it’s devastating. They were promised action. What they got was a political shrug.
While Labour stalls, others are stepping up. Former MEP Rupert Lowe is now leading a campaign for a real inquiry — one with teeth — and gaining cross-party support along with crowdfunding from people across the country who are desperate to see justice finally served.
The sense of betrayal is deep. For those who’ve spent years demanding answers, Labour’s latest move feels like a clear message: protecting votes matters more than protecting children. And unless something changes fast, that betrayal will be remembered — not just at the ballot box, but in every community still waiting for the truth.
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