Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has branded Labour's response to grooming gangs "not good enough" after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch renewed calls for a national rape gangs inquiry.
The Conservatives plan to table an amendment to Labour's Crime Bill after Easter, forcing a vote on establishing a National Statutory Inquiry.
Philp told GB News that Labour's proposal for just five local inquiries is insufficient to address the scale of the scandal.
Badenoch last night pledged to push ahead with measures to force a UK-wide probe, last night vowing not to "standby and allow this horrifying scandal to be swept aside".
The Leader of the Opposition's intervention comes directly in response to GB News's latest exclusive interview with an Oldham grooming gangs survivor.
In an interview with the People's Channel, Philp said: "We think it's vital there is a national statutory public inquiry into the rape gangs because lots of public officials, councillors, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and others covered this up for many, many years and deliberately ignored the testimony of victims.
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"I want to see the public officials who covered this up, or at the very least ignored, held to account.
"There's a criminal offence called misconduct in public office, and I think any public official, including local councillors and councils, who turned a blind eye to these rape gangs because they were simply because they were of predominantly Pakistani heritage they should be held to account.
"They should frankly be prosecuted. They should go to prison. Now, Labour's proposal to have just five local inquiries simply is not good enough. Firstly, about 50 towns were affected.
"Some towns like Oldham are refusing to have an inquiry. So that's the first problem with Labour's approach. Only five towns are covered. But secondly, these local inquiries don't have statutory powers, which means they don't have the legal ability to force witnesses to appear to requisition evidence, to take evidence under oath.
"And one of these local inquiries in Manchester last year saw the chairs resign because even as recently as last year, public bodies were still refusing to provide evidence.
"That's why it's got to be a national statutory inquiry. We're going to put it to a vote after Easter in Parliament, and we'll find out whose side Labour is really on."
GB News's exclusive interview revealed the harrowing experience of "Jade", not her real name, who was abused and exploited by 85 men over just three years in Oldham.
The survivor expressed little hope for justice, telling the People's Channel: "I'm pretty sure that these have got away with it for life. This is never gonna end."
A Home Office spokesman also said: "This Government is committed to doing everything it can to tackle the horrific crime of child sexual abuse.
"This includes working closely with local areas to confront these crimes head-on, ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law, and provide vital support to victims and survivors.
"As the Home Secretary announced in January, £5million is being made available through a new fund to help strengthen local response to child sexual exploitation.
"This funding will help support local authorities that want to undertake work targeted at specific local needs, underpinned by a new local inquiries framework."
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The Conservatives plan to table an amendment to Labour's Crime Bill after Easter, forcing a vote on establishing a National Statutory Inquiry.
Philp told GB News that Labour's proposal for just five local inquiries is insufficient to address the scale of the scandal.
Badenoch last night pledged to push ahead with measures to force a UK-wide probe, last night vowing not to "standby and allow this horrifying scandal to be swept aside".
The Leader of the Opposition's intervention comes directly in response to GB News's latest exclusive interview with an Oldham grooming gangs survivor.
In an interview with the People's Channel, Philp said: "We think it's vital there is a national statutory public inquiry into the rape gangs because lots of public officials, councillors, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and others covered this up for many, many years and deliberately ignored the testimony of victims.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Oldham grooming gangs survivor tells story for first time as dad demands public inquiry
- Kemi Badenoch launches fresh push for national rape gangs inquiry after GB News shines more light on 'horrifying scandal'
- Britain facing growing threat from ‘sadistic’ abuse groups fuelling 'peer-on-peer' child abuse
"I want to see the public officials who covered this up, or at the very least ignored, held to account.
"There's a criminal offence called misconduct in public office, and I think any public official, including local councillors and councils, who turned a blind eye to these rape gangs because they were simply because they were of predominantly Pakistani heritage they should be held to account.
"They should frankly be prosecuted. They should go to prison. Now, Labour's proposal to have just five local inquiries simply is not good enough. Firstly, about 50 towns were affected.
"Some towns like Oldham are refusing to have an inquiry. So that's the first problem with Labour's approach. Only five towns are covered. But secondly, these local inquiries don't have statutory powers, which means they don't have the legal ability to force witnesses to appear to requisition evidence, to take evidence under oath.
"And one of these local inquiries in Manchester last year saw the chairs resign because even as recently as last year, public bodies were still refusing to provide evidence.
"That's why it's got to be a national statutory inquiry. We're going to put it to a vote after Easter in Parliament, and we'll find out whose side Labour is really on."
GB News's exclusive interview revealed the harrowing experience of "Jade", not her real name, who was abused and exploited by 85 men over just three years in Oldham.
The survivor expressed little hope for justice, telling the People's Channel: "I'm pretty sure that these have got away with it for life. This is never gonna end."
A Home Office spokesman also said: "This Government is committed to doing everything it can to tackle the horrific crime of child sexual abuse.
"This includes working closely with local areas to confront these crimes head-on, ensure perpetrators face the full force of the law, and provide vital support to victims and survivors.
"As the Home Secretary announced in January, £5million is being made available through a new fund to help strengthen local response to child sexual exploitation.
"This funding will help support local authorities that want to undertake work targeted at specific local needs, underpinned by a new local inquiries framework."
Find Out More...