Rochdale grooming gangs whistleblower Maggie Oliver has claimed Sir Keir Starmer "doesn't want" an inquiry into historical abuse failures due to his previous role as director of public prosecutions.
Speaking on GB News, Oliver said: "I think what we have now is a country that knows what is happening. We have got anger amongst ordinary, decent people that this is being allowed to continue."
The comments come as Labour formally rejected calls for a Home Office-led inquiry into historic child abuse in Oldham.
Oliver said that in 2008, Gordon Brown issued a circular to all UK police forces which effectively stated "do not prosecute these rape gangs, these children are making a lifestyle choice."
She highlighted that Starmer was director of public prosecutions at the time of this circular.
"So why are we ever going to believe he will want to do anything about this?" Oliver questioned during her GB News appearance.
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Oliver revealed she also met with ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while he was still in power, stating "he really didn't have much of a clue of what was going on."
She contrasted this with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was present at the meeting, saying: "She did understand. She was sacked."
"We need somebody with teeth, somebody who is going to grasp this nettle and call it out for what it is," Oliver added.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips responded to Oldham Council's request for an inquiry, stating it was "for Oldham Council alone" to commission such an investigation.
In letters to the council executive, Phillips acknowledged "the strength of feeling that a further inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham should be undertaken."
The rejection follows a 2022 report by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority which found police and local authorities in Oldham failed to protect children from sexual abuse.
Many local survivors believe the 2022 report did not go far enough.
Speaking about her time as Home Secretary, Braverman told GB News that meeting grooming gang survivors in Rotherham and Rochdale was "one of the most unforgettable moments" of her tenure.
She called for "zero tolerance" in deporting foreign nationals found guilty of these crimes.
"They told me of the horrendous experiences they had gone through, and some of them told me how the pain and destruction was exacerbated by the fact that their perpetrators were still in the country," Braverman said.
"This is adding insult to injury," she added.
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Speaking on GB News, Oliver said: "I think what we have now is a country that knows what is happening. We have got anger amongst ordinary, decent people that this is being allowed to continue."
The comments come as Labour formally rejected calls for a Home Office-led inquiry into historic child abuse in Oldham.
Oliver said that in 2008, Gordon Brown issued a circular to all UK police forces which effectively stated "do not prosecute these rape gangs, these children are making a lifestyle choice."
She highlighted that Starmer was director of public prosecutions at the time of this circular.
"So why are we ever going to believe he will want to do anything about this?" Oliver questioned during her GB News appearance.
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Oliver revealed she also met with ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak while he was still in power, stating "he really didn't have much of a clue of what was going on."
She contrasted this with former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was present at the meeting, saying: "She did understand. She was sacked."
"We need somebody with teeth, somebody who is going to grasp this nettle and call it out for what it is," Oliver added.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips responded to Oldham Council's request for an inquiry, stating it was "for Oldham Council alone" to commission such an investigation.
In letters to the council executive, Phillips acknowledged "the strength of feeling that a further inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham should be undertaken."
The rejection follows a 2022 report by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority which found police and local authorities in Oldham failed to protect children from sexual abuse.
Many local survivors believe the 2022 report did not go far enough.
Speaking about her time as Home Secretary, Braverman told GB News that meeting grooming gang survivors in Rotherham and Rochdale was "one of the most unforgettable moments" of her tenure.
She called for "zero tolerance" in deporting foreign nationals found guilty of these crimes.
"They told me of the horrendous experiences they had gone through, and some of them told me how the pain and destruction was exacerbated by the fact that their perpetrators were still in the country," Braverman said.
"This is adding insult to injury," she added.
Find Out More...