All survivors who quit grooming gang inquiry will return if Jess Phillips resigns

All survivors who have resigned from the government's grooming gangs inquiry panel will consider returning if safeguarding minister Jess Phillips resigns.

The four women who have resigned this week have written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, calling for Ms Phillips to step down and all survivors to be consulted on appointing a senior judge as chair with no major conflicts of interest.

Ms Phillips told parliament on Tuesday suggestions the scope of the inquiry was to be expanded from just grooming gangs were "categorically untrue".

But leaked consultation documents and texts between the safeguarding minister and survivor Fiona Goddard show the survivors' concerns that the scope would be expanded were valid.

The survivors' letter says: "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.

"It is a betrayal that has destroyed what little trust remained."

Phillips 'unfit' to oversee process

The survivors have demanded the scope of the inquiry remain "laser-focused" on grooming gangs and called for victims to be free to speak to support networks without fear of reprisal.

An independent mental health professional should replace the current victim liaison lead, they also wrote.

The letter to Ms Mahmood says: "Her [Ms Phillips'] conduct over the last week has shown she is unfit to oversee a process that requires survivors to trust the government. Her departure would signal you are serious about accountability and changing direction."

The survivors describe their demands as "the absolute bare minimum for survivors to trust that this inquiry will be different from every other process that has let us down".

Sky News has approached the Home Office for a comment on the victims' letter.

Read more on Sky News:
Inquiry 'won't be watered down'
Grooming survivor quits inquiry
Victim 'lives with trauma every day

Frontrunner quits over 'toxicity'

The letter was sent hours after one of the frontrunners to become chair of the inquiry withdrew, blaming "vested interests" and "political opportunism and point-scoring".

Ex-police chief and child protection specialist Jim Gamble told the home secretary in a letter there was a "highly charged and toxic environment" around the appointment process and victims "deserve better".

Speaking to Sky News, he said he originally viewed the job as an "opportunity of a lifetime" but changed his mind due to a "growing level of toxicity" and misinformation.

He said he had more than 20 years' experience working with abuse survivors and understood the issues involved.

"To imply for one second I would align myself with any political party to hide their blushes is just nonsense," said Mr Gamble, who added he was stepping back "with a heavy heart".

'Political opportunism'

In his letter to the home secretary, Mr Gamble said his decision was "reinforced by the highly charged and toxic environment that has surrounded and influenced the appointment process and the impact this has had on those closest to me".

He added: "Regrettably, the reaction to the appointment process has been defined more by the vested interests of some, as well as political opportunism and point-scoring, rather than by the cross-party consensus required to address such a serious national issue.

"Victims and survivors, who have been let down so often in the past, deserve better than to be used as leverage for short-term gain by anyone."

Mr Gamble began his career in Northern Ireland, rising to become head of RUC special branch in Belfast.

However, he is best known for his work combating child abuse, and in 2006 headed up the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, which revolutionised the approach to policing online child abuse networks.

He was one of two known leading candidates for the role.

Former social worker out of the running

The other, Annie Hudson, a former social worker, said earlier this week she no longer wanted to be considered after intense media coverage.

The prime minister launched the inquiry into grooming gangs after an audit by Baroness Louise Casey showed the scale of the problem.

It is understood that the government is exploring a range of other candidates and will provide an update in due course.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The grooming gang scandal was one of the darkest moments in this country's history.

"That is why this government is committed to a full, statutory, national inquiry to uncover the truth. It is the very least that the victims of these hideous crimes deserve.

"We are disappointed that candidates to chair that inquiry have withdrawn. This is an extremely sensitive topic, and we have to take the time to appoint the best person suitable for the role.

"The home secretary has been clear - there will be no hiding place for those who abused the most vulnerable in our society."

Inquiry 'will never be watered down'

Kemi Badenoch raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, with the Tory leader asking - on behalf of one of the resigned grooming inquiry members - what the point of an inquiry is if they are just ignored.

Sir Keir said the inquiry "is not and will never be watered down" and that he wanted survivors "to be at the heart of this".

Victim's father calls for minister to resign

Marlon West, whose daughter Scarlett was a grooming victim who was raped by more than 60 men, has also called for Ms Jess Phillips to resign.

He said he doubted she would, but claimed she "has lost any kind of faith from the public, and more importantly with survivors and families".

Mr West described the minister in parliament this week as "unprofessional" and "defensive rather than listening to what survivors are saying".

He also wants to see an inquiry with family members included, alongside survivors, on the panel, and even though he doesn't want to be included, he said, "it's the families who are dealing with the services, not so much the survivors".

Mr West added: "It's the parents who are dealing with the police, every single day, and social services. It's really important that they get family perspective. I think they should start again."

'Gaslit and manipulated'

Survivor Ellie-Ann Reynolds, who withdrew earlier this week, said as soon as they [victims] found out what the two candidates used to do [police and social work], it "raised red flags" as they were involved with "the two institutions that have failed us".

Mr Gamble's decision to withdraw was "the right thing to do", she said, as victims were "gaslit" and "manipulated" during the process and had "very little faith in authorities and systems".

(c) Sky News 2025: All survivors who quit grooming gang inquiry will return if Jess Phillips resigns