A cross-party group of 99 MPs from six political parties have written to Sir Keir Starmer warning the Prime Minister that confidence in the national grooming gangs inquiry risks being undermined unless victims and survivors are given a central role.
The letter, organised by Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore and signed by MPs from the Conservatives, Labour, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, the TUV, the Alliance Party and two Independent MPs, calls for a “survivor-led” approach to the inquiry’s design and delivery.
In the letter, MPs urge the government to ensure the inquiry has a trusted mechanism for survivors to speak about their abuse and that there is formal survivor representation.
“For decades, survivors have spoken out about what happened to them. Many were ignored, disbelieved, or failed by all levels of the British state. They are now speaking again with the hope that people will finally listen to their calls. We need to make sure they are heard,” the letter states.
“[Survivors] bring a wealth of knowledge that will be vital to the inquiry. They must have formal, meaningful roles in shaping the inquiry's work and must not simply be consulted after decisions have been made.”
Signatories of the letter include Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform Leader Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Committee Member Paul Kohler, Labour MPs Paula Barker and Chris Murray and independent MPs Rupert Lowe and Rosie Duffield.
Speaking about the letter Robbie Moore MP said:
“It’s a basic principle that every MP should agree on that there is no justice without survivors. If the Prime Minister wants this inquiry to succeed, then he needs to show victims and survivors in places like Keighley that it is being done with them, not to them.
For decades, Survivors have been ignored by all levels of the British state and this cannot be allowed to happen again. We now await a formal response from the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary and I urge them to adopt these proposals in full.”
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