I am extremely disappointed that three months on from announcing a national inquiry into rape gangs, this government continues to fail the victims.
Last week, Parliament returned from its summer break and one of the first items listed for business was an “update” on the inquiry.
I sat in the chamber hoping to get some detailed information but all I heard was a long statement with little information. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the inaction by this government on the Rape Gang Inquiry was a masterclass in procrastination.
Home Office Minister Jess Phillips said she and Yvette Cooper (former Home Secretary until last week’s cabinet reshuffle) had met with candidates and an appointment for chairperson was now in the “final stages”.
The inquiry was announced in June, what is taking so long? What kind of message is this giving out to victims? When I questioned the minister, she could not provide me with any further detail on the terms of reference of the inquiry or when the inquiry would conclude.
I am disappointed (but sadly not surprised) by how slowly the government is acting. Let’s not forget it never wanted this national inquiry. It had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do one. Keir Starmer said it was a right-wing bandwagon, his senior ministers said it was a dog-whistle issue.
In the past we repeatedly heard community cohesion was put above protecting white-working class girls and too little was done for fear of being labelled racist. It feels we are still in the same situation and government is running scared of the inquiry. If someone does wrong, it should not matter the colour of their skin or their religion, the law is the law.
While government is doing nothing, an alternative inquiry (The Rape Gang Inquiry) set up by Independent MP Rupert Lowe, which I am a part of, has made significant progress. Many survivors have come forward and initiated contact with us and staff working on the inquiry have also met with others and their families, as part of the evidence gathering process. Freedom of Information requests also uncovered abuse is happening or has happened in 85 local authority areas. Letters are being sent out to all of these councils calling for full transparency going forward. The hearings will begin later this year.
The clear message from survivors is they want government to “get on with it” and I could not agree more.
