Oldham grooming scandal ‘absolute best solution’ floated as local councillor wades in on ‘shameful’ Labour move
An Oldham councillor has called for a “full, national inquiry” as the “absolute best solution” to the ongoing grooming gangs row.
Speaking to GB News, independent councillor Brian Hobin said the issue should not be used as a “political football”.
“The politics needs to come out of this. I don’t want it to be a political football”, Hobin told presenter Martin Daubney.
His comments come after Labour’s Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips rejected calls from Oldham Council for a Home Office-led inquiry into historic child abuse in the borough.
“None of the Westminster politicians come out of this at all well”, Hobin added.
Phillips responded to two letters from Oldham Council’s executive after the authority voted to write to the Home Secretary requesting a formal Public Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation.
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In her letter, Phillips said she understood “the strength of feeling” for a further inquiry but maintained it was “for Oldham Council alone to decide”.
The Minister apologised for the delay in responding to the council’s letters.
The rejection came after Oldham Council’s Labour group had agreed to support an independent inquiry following their loss of majority control in May’s local elections.
A Home Office spokesman said: “No child should ever suffer sexual abuse or exploitation.”
Hobin described the rejection as “disappointing” but noted the council has a “plan B”.
“We have been trying for this for five or six years and we finally got the numbers and the motion to come through”, he told GB News.
The councillor welcomed renewed attention on the issue, saying: “It’s back on the agenda, thanks to GB News, people are talking about this.”
GB News understands that Oldham Council has made contact with Telford, which faced a similar scandal, to explore various inquiry options.
The council continues to work with survivors to ensure their voices are heard regarding future investigations.
The row has sparked wider calls for action, with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch stating a national inquiry is “long overdue”.
Writing on X, Badenoch said: “2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice.”
However, Rotherham abuse survivor Sammy Woodhouse criticised the Conservative response, saying: “I’ve met with your party for 12 years about this when you were in power. I asked for an inquiry into every town and city, none of you cared.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage added: “Talk is cheap. The Conservatives had 14 years in government to launch an inquiry.”
Shadow safeguarding minister Alicia Kearns has written to Phillips requesting she reverse the Oldham decision.