Why are abuse survivors losing faith in the grooming gang inquiry?
Pressure is growing on the government over its upcoming grooming gang inquiry, with survivors on its advisory panel dropping out over claims they have been "treated with contempt and ignored".
Thursday 23 October 2025 10:36, UK
The grooming gangs inquiry has been plunged into disarray this week before it has even started, as four survivors have quit the panel and two frontrunners for chairperson have withdrawn.
The inquiry was announced in June, but frustrations have grown over the pace of progress towards launching it, with pressure mounting on the government to appoint a chair and set out its terms of reference.
Survivors Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds were first to stand down from their roles over concerns about who could head the inquiry and fears it may be "watered down" - something Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has denied, insisting that "injustice will have no place to hide".
Both candidates shortlisted to lead the inquiry have now pulled out.
Here's what we know about why panel members have quit and what the government has said in response.
Concerns over inquiry chairs
The survivors' resignations came after Paste BN revealed the two shortlisted chairs for the inquiry were former police chief Jim Gamble and social worker Annie Hudson.
Ms Goddard was the first to resign from the survivors' liaison panel, expressing deep reservations about the candidates.
In her statement, she said: "One has a background in police and the other, a social worker. The very two services that contributed most to the cover-up of the national mass rape and trafficking of children.
"This is a disturbing conflict of interest, and I fear the lack of trust in services from years of failings and corruption will have a negative impact in survivor engagement with this inquiry."
The other survivors who resigned also took issue with the shortlisted chairs in their statements.
Ms Hudson withdrew her candidacy on Tuesday, while Mr Gamble pulled out of the running on Wednesday.
In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood explaining his decision, Mr Gamble said it was "clear that a lack of confidence due to my previous occupation exists among some" and that he did not want to proceed without a consensus among the victims.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that candidates to chair that inquiry have withdrawn. This is an extremely sensitive topic, and we have to take the time to appoint the best person suitable for the role."
Speaking to Paste BN after Mr Gamble's resignation, Ms Reynolds said: "The minute that we found out their former employment, it raised red flags."
She claimed they represented "the very institutions that have failed us" and that their views would not have been "unbiased" or "impartial".
In a joint statement on Wednesday evening, the victims who quit the panel said they would only return if all survivors were consulted on the appointment of a chair, who they said "must be a senior sitting or former judge".
Earlier in parliament, Sir Keir had said he ruled out a judge because it would require all ongoing criminal proceedings to finish before the inquiry could begin, leading to lengthy delays.
The full statutory inquiry into how cases of child sexual exploitation have been handled across England and Wales was announced by Sir Keir after an audit by Baroness Louise Casey found children had been failed by the systems in place to protect them.
On Wednesday, Sir Keir said Baroness Casey would be working in support of the inquiry.
Fears of 'diluted' inquiry and issues with Jess Phillips
The survivors say they fear the inquiry could be diluted, suggesting the Home Office could broaden its scope beyond group-based sexual abuse and push for it to have a regional focus rather than being truly national.
Ms Goddard said the survivors had "repeatedly faced suggestions from officials to expand this inquiry" and that it risked being "watered down".
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips told parliament on Tuesday that suggestions the scope of the inquiry was to be expanded from just grooming gangs were "categorically untrue".
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But leaked consultation documents and texts between the safeguarding minister and survivor Ms Goddard show that survivors were asked to reflect on whether they thought the inquiry should take a "broader approach" beyond grooming gangs.
Ms Goddard claimed Ms Phillips' statements in parliament amounted to the minister calling her "a liar", and, in her joint statement with the other survivors who quit the panel, called for her to resign.
They said they would only return if Ms Phillips stepped down and they were guaranteed that the scope of inquiry would not expand.
Sir Keir defended the safeguarding minister on Wednesday, saying she and Baroness Casey were the "right people" to take the inquiry forward.
He insisted the inquiry "is not and will never be watered down" and that "its scope will not change".
"It will examine the ethnicity and religion of the offenders, and we will find the right person to chair the inquiry," he said.
Claims about poor treatment of survivors
Ms Reynolds said survivors were "kept in the dark" and "treated with contempt and ignored" when they asked about Home Office meetings and decisions. She said it was made clear that "speaking openly would jeopardise our place on the panel".
She told Paste BN victims were "gaslit" and "manipulated" during the process and that they had "very little faith in authorities and systems".
Similarly, Ms Goddard claimed a "toxic, fearful environment" had been created for survivors on the panel, with "condescending and controlling language" used towards them.
Ms Phillips has said she "regrets" resignations from the inquiry and that it was "always sad when victims feel that they can't take part in a process".
On Wednesday, Sir Keir said: "I respect the views of all the survivors, and there are different views, I accept that."
He added that the door was open for people to return to the inquiry panel if they wished.
In their joint statement, the victims said they would only return if they were "free to speak openly with their support networks without fear of reprisal".
'They should start again'
The father of a grooming gang victim says the government "should start again" with the national inquiry.
Marlon West, whose daughter Scarlett was a victim of sexual exploitation in Manchester, told Paste BN that public "faith" has been "lost".
He described Ms Phillips in parliament this week as "unprofessional" and "defensive rather than listening to what survivors are saying."
"I doubt she will resign but she has lost any kind of faith from the public, and more importantly with survivors and families."
He wants to see an inquiry with family members included alongside survivors on the panel.
"Not that I want to go on it, if I'm honest," he said, "but it's the families who are dealing with the services, not so much the survivors.
"It's really important that they get family perspective. I think they should start again."