Labour MPs Sarah Champion and Paul Waugh, who represent the towns of Rotherham and Rochdale—epicenters of the UK’s grooming gang scandals—have reversed their positions and now support calls for a national public inquiry into the failures of authorities to address child exploitation. Their shift comes as pressure builds on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to act.
Champion, a former frontbencher who lost her position in 2017 for highlighting grooming gang issues, voiced her support for a nationwide investigation to restore public confidence. “Nothing less than a national inquiry… will restore the faith in our safeguarding systems,” she said. However, Champion proposed that such investigations should be locally led, raising concerns about the potential for continued cover-ups by local authorities, a problem alleged in previous cases.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh echoed support for an inquiry but attached conditions, emphasizing the need for victim approval and safeguards to avoid interfering with ongoing police investigations. Waugh, along with Champion, had voted against a similar proposal just last week, under Starmer’s directive.
The scandals in Rotherham and Rochdale have deeply scarred public trust. A 2014 report by Professor Alexis Jay found that over 1,400 girls in Rotherham were groomed and sexually abused between 1997 and 2013, primarily by groups of Pakistani men. Police and other authorities reportedly ignored these crimes, fearing accusations of racism or causing ethnic tension.
Prime Minister Starmer has resisted calls for a new inquiry, arguing that such an investigation would take years and divert resources from implementing recommendations from prior reports. He has dismissed demands for a national inquiry as a far-right agenda.
However, Labour MP Dan Carden from Liverpool Walton countered Starmer’s narrative, stating his outrage stems from the severity of the crimes, their cover-up, and the lack of accountability. Carden criticized the “progressive liberal multiculturalism” that led authorities to overlook the abuse.
Public sentiment also leans against Starmer’s position. A recent survey revealed that more than 75% of Britons support a national inquiry to examine the systemic failures surrounding grooming gangs and the failure to protect vulnerable children.
The growing support among Labour MPs for an inquiry, coupled with public outrage, presents a significant challenge for Starmer as calls for transparency and accountability intensify.
