Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has announced that his party will set up its own national inquiry into sexual abuse by gangs if the government fails to do so. Farage made this statement during a phone-in on LBC, stating that he would have no trouble raising the necessary funds and appointing independent experts for the inquiry. He plans to move forward with this plan in the coming weeks if the government continues to refuse to launch an official inquiry.
The Times has also expressed support for a new inquiry in an editorial, emphasizing the need to explore where and how these gangs operated. However, Prof. Alexis Jay, chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), has spoken out against calls for a new national inquiry focusing specifically on rape or grooming gangs. She believes that the time has passed for more inquiries and that victims and survivors are seeking action rather than further investigations.
Jay also stated that a new inquiry could hinder the implementation of recommendations from the final IICSA report released in 2022. She emphasized the need for both local and national efforts to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. Farage’s proposal for a party-led inquiry may face challenges in compelling witnesses to give evidence, but he believes that public support will put pressure on potential witnesses to participate. The debate over the need for a new national inquiry continues as different stakeholders express varying opinions on the matter.
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