Skip to main content

Labour rejects Oldham Council's call for child abuse inquiry

It has sparked a national row about justice for victims of sexual exploitation

A stock image of a child.
Oldham council voted in July to call for a government-led public inquiry.

Labour has rejected calls from Oldham council for a government inquiry into historic child abuse.


Oldham councillors voted in July to ask the Home Office for a public inquiry to give a voice to those impacted by child sexual exploitation. It followed a Greater Manchester Combined Authority review commissioned in 2019 which found evidence that the council had failed vulnerable children, despite its efforts to protect them.


The review, which was requested by ex-Oldham council leader Sean Fielding alongside the chair of Oldham Safeguarding Partnership, stated there was 'no evidence' of a council cover up. But the Home Office told the Manchester Evening News today a new government-led investigation into historic sex abuse cases will not take place.


Andy Burnham.
A Greater Manchester Combined Authority review found children in Oldham had been failed by the council.

It follows reports safeguarding minister Jess Phillips wrote back to the council saying any inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham should be organised locally. Oldham council said it has promised victims their voices will be heard despite the lack of government intervention.

A spokesperson added: “Survivors sit at the heart of our work to end child sexual exploitation. Whatever happens in terms of future inquiries, we have promised them that their wishes will be paramount, and we will not renege on that pledge.

Article continues below

“We all recognise that terrible mistakes were made in the past, with children ignored or dismissed.

“By ensuring that survivors have a voice that is heard, we can help make sure that no child will be failed in the future.”

Oldham council offices.
Oldham council's request for a public inquiry was rejected by the government.

The Oldham council motion in July also called on the town hall to prepare to commission an independent inquiry in case the Home Office refused their request for support.

It stated that ‘any inquiry should provide a voice for those affected by child sexual exploitation in Oldham and provide the very best support and protection to those who wish to come forward with their testimony.’

Labour’s rejection of the council’s request has sparked backlash from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch who has demanded a national inquiry into the UK’s “rape gangs scandal.”


She wrote on X: “The time is long overdue for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal. Trials have taken place all over the country in recent years but no one in authority has joined the dots. 2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice.”

US-based billionaire Elon Musk has also thrown himself into the row, accusing Labour leader Keir Starmer of not doing enough to tackle the issue when he was director of public prosecutions.

Mr Musk wrote on X: “The real reason she's [Jess Phillips] refusing to investigate the rape gangs is that it would obviously lead to the blaming of Keir Starmer (head of the CPS at the time).”

Article continues below

Labour and the Home Office were approached for comment.

Follow Manchester Evening News:


OldhamOldham CouncilLabour Party
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.