Labour has come under fire after refusing to hold a public inquiry into historic sexual abuse by grooming gangs in Oldham.

Aveline

Another enquiry? Less talking and more action is what's required.

👏👏👏

Lessonsmust be learnt for once.

Farage wants another enquiry so his subjects want another enquiry, should someone tell him there has been an enquiry,
why did act on it then ?

Another enquiry? Less talking and more action is what's required.

I would love it if you could explain further.

What new findings would an enquiry give?

How do you think you know more than highly respected people who do not believe an enquiry would help?

Why do Labour voters not care about abuse?

Because Labour wish it all to go away. An inquiry is a vote loser for them!

But it has been highlighted, why does it need to be re highlighted and hi jacked for political gain?

Read what Maggie Oliver wrote.

Anyone who highlights this utterly sickening abhorrent act that was allowed to go on in this country is correct on this occasion!

It is stomach turning Annie. Really. I fear decency has left the building.

This is so sick, using child abuse for political gains, Farage can’t sink lower surely

The conspiracy theories, including suspecting civil servants of turning blind eyes are no where near the findings of successive inquiries.
Those who see Musk as a champion of the rights of abused children are hopelessly wrong
This discussion is becoming ridiculous. Thank goodness ‘some posters’ are in no position to influence any inquiries.

If this was happening in another country we would have something to say about it and want answers and people held to account. I’m not surprised that people from overseas are amazed and disgusted at what’s going on in a so-called civilised country . Pity so few of our politicians think it has anything to do with them.

Wyllow3

Musk latest today:

"On Friday, Musk shared a post asking whether the king “should dissolve parliament and order a general election … for the sake and security” of the UK. He retweeted the X thread with a one-word comment: “Yes.”"

He has has used the social media site to post or repost about child grooming in the UK more than 40 times over the past 24 hours.

its reminding me a bit of that period when Trump was up half the night posting obsessively on twitter.

its all "political" - the those closest to the victims past and present are asking for the priority to be actually put into carrying through the results of the long inquiry.

its all "political"...

Isn't it just.

Musk is obsessed.

I try to 'fact-check' quotes and comments attributed to him because I don't want to get into the murky world of fake news generated by AI from those who oppose him.

According to Huff Post and other sources he has amplified a post from 4chan (an anonymous message board worthy of a separate thread) which he found an "interesting observation"..

I won't post the whole comment as it will detract from the topic, but basically Musk is highlighting a comment from 4chan which says that "a Republic of high-status males is best for decision-making".

Why anyone believes this man is seriously concerned about the welfare of abused children and young women in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter) defies belief.

If he's so invested in them, why has he re-platformed the self-declared misogynist, Andrew Tate - a man accused of rape and human-trafficking (as it's politely called)?

I think I'm going to exit this thread now before I have to read any more "good on Elon Musk" type comments...

I'm not a fan of Starmer, but this is becoming farcical.

What's needed more than anything now is, as you say for the recommendations of that independent enquiry to be enacted - which those closest to the victims say they are asking for as a priority.

Wyllow3

*A former chief prosecutor and a police whistleblower who uncovered a notorious paedophile gang have hit back at demands from senior Conservatives and the billionaire Elon Musk for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation*

Nazir Afzal, the ex-chief prosecutor who was central to successful prosecution of the Rochdale grooming gang, said lengthy and expensive inquiries were not acted upon by the previous Conservative government.

Maggie Oliver, who resigned from Greater Manchester police to speak out about police failings in child exploitation, said she did not want to hear more “empty promises and political manoeuvrings”.

Their comments follow a growing row started by Elon Musk, the billionaire ally of Donald Trump, who called for a national inquiry in the UK and accused Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham in Greater Manchester.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/02/ex-chief-prosecutor-rejects-musks-calls-for-new-child-abuse-inquiry

But Maggie says this is not quite what she said .

That’s not in truth what I said @nazirafzal . I said that ALL THESE ENQUIRIES including @IICSAVSCP Rochdale, Augusta, Oldham have all led absolutely NOWHERE! Nothing changes. Millions wasted. Lawyers getting rich defending the indefensible.

Because those leading these “enquiries” have always wanted to cover up the truth, to hide it. And I’d say it’s become even worse in recent months with those who dare to speak out finding themselves in prison within a couple of DAYS….. when victims wait 6/7/8 years for a trial!! Corrupt and just wrong!

I firmly believe we need totally independent people who will ensure it’s not just another attempt to delay and hide the truth. Radical change and overhaul of all our public bodies. And bring in. Criminal accountability for all our senior police and public officials who have turned a blind eye.

Those with vested interests who pop up when this hits the headlines then fade away again when it all dies down will not bring change. They’re in it for themselves I believe. Conservatives and labour are all equally to blame imo, and @Keir_Starmer as former DPP is perhaps as guilty as anyone I know in where we find ourselves today.

We all know what’s going on, but I don’t trust a single one of those who to date have been entrusted with keeping our children safe and prosecuting serial rapists. They’ve failed. Repeatedly. Knowingly. Criminally.

Xx

its all "political" - the those closest to the victims past and present are asking for the priority to be actually put into carrying through the results of the long inquiry.

That's fine and the recommendations should be carried through.

I think we need a full discussion about what has been going on in our civil service.

I think we have gone away from the civil service working for us the tax payer to them being a law unto themselves.

A former chief prosecutor and a police whistleblower who uncovered a notorious paedophile gang have hit back at demands from senior Conservatives and the billionaire Elon Musk for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation

Nazir Afzal, the ex-chief prosecutor who was central to successful prosecution of the Rochdale grooming gang, said lengthy and expensive inquiries were not acted upon by the previous Conservative government.

Maggie Oliver, who resigned from Greater Manchester police to speak out about police failings in child exploitation, said she did not want to hear more “empty promises and political manoeuvrings”.

Their comments follow a growing row started by Elon Musk, the billionaire ally of Donald Trump, who called for a national inquiry in the UK and accused Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham in Greater Manchester.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/02/ex-chief-prosecutor-rejects-musks-calls-for-new-child-abuse-inquiry

Wyllow3

Musk latest today:

"On Friday, Musk shared a post asking whether the king “should dissolve parliament and order a general election … for the sake and security” of the UK. He retweeted the X thread with a one-word comment: “Yes.”"

He has has used the social media site to post or repost about child grooming in the UK more than 40 times over the past 24 hours.

its reminding me a bit of that period when Trump was up half the night posting obsessively on twitter.

its all "political" - the those closest to the victims past and present are asking for the priority to be actually put into carrying through the results of the long inquiry.

Why are people so bothered what Musk is tweeting?

Another rich guy Dale Vince was tweeting things about Trump during and after the American election.

Just ignore it.

Musk latest today:

"On Friday, Musk shared a post asking whether the king “should dissolve parliament and order a general election … for the sake and security” of the UK. He retweeted the X thread with a one-word comment: “Yes.”"

He has has used the social media site to post or repost about child grooming in the UK more than 40 times over the past 24 hours.

its reminding me a bit of that period when Trump was up half the night posting obsessively on twitter.

its all "political" - the those closest to the victims past and present are asking for the priority to be actually put into carrying through the results of the long inquiry.

You do know that there was an independent inquiry which took 7 years to complete - 2015 - 2022?

These were local enquiries that didn't link all full list of towns where rape gangs were a problem.
Many were underfunded and were carried out by local councils who in many ways could mark their own homework.

Who were the civil servants who knew what was going on, who did they tell and how far up the chain did it go?

I am not interested what Boris said as he wasn't there at the time controlling things

This should not be party political.

I think Musk and Trump may start making many problems for the UK.

Ohhowwelaughed

I don't care what the previous government or this government has or hasn't done, it's time that there was a full and transparent enquiry into who knew, who turned a blind eye and would be quite happy for some of the people in positions of trust to be hauled before the courts.

How can we moan about how much this costs the young girls deserve it. If Musk puts pressure on to get this then good on him.

How can the home office etc keep saying lessons have been learnt?

it's time that there was a full and transparent enquiry into who knew,

You do know that there was an independent inquiry which took 7 years to complete - 2015 - 2022?

I don't know how long a public inquiry might take, but action is needed now on what is already known and understood, surely?

How can we moan about how much this costs the young girls deserve it

... who is moaning? No-one on here as far as I can tell.

It isn't we who are moaning - it was Boris Johnson who appeared to consider money would be better spent on current issues facing the police rather than on historic child sex abuse.

That might be uncomfortable for some to hear, who want to now put the blame solely on to the Labour party.

How can the home office etc keep saying lessons have been learnt?

... because they haven't yet concocted a suitable alternative mantra?

Allira

^How can the home office etc keep saying lessons have been learnt?^

I was going to mention lessons being learned and wondering if they ever are.

Exactly

If you are in say the police or child protection and turned a blind eye knowing what was happening makes you nearly as bad as the rapists.

If I knew a terror threat was going on next door and I never reported I would rightly dragged before the courts

How can the home office etc keep saying lessons have been learnt?

I was going to mention lessons being learned and wondering if they ever are.

I don't care what the previous government or this government has or hasn't done, it's time that there was a full and transparent enquiry into who knew, who turned a blind eye and would be quite happy for some of the people in positions of trust to be hauled before the courts.

How can we moan about how much this costs the young girls deserve it. If Musk puts pressure on to get this then good on him.

How can the home office etc keep saying lessons have been learnt?

eazybee

Well, Starmer and Phillips have a chance to right wrongs, so why are they refusing?
Concentrate on the here and now.

... Concentrate on the here and now.

Is that an order?

I don't know why Starmer has blocked a public inquiry.

Starmer has admitted 'culpability'in that the CPS had let down vulnerable girls after a case was dropped against a rape suspect - despite the evidence pointing to his guilt.

I am hoping he will have more to say on the matter in the next few days, and that he will give his / the government's reason(s).

But I'm not in any doubt that this is politically motivated on the part of Badenoch, Musk, and the RW media who have been (naturally, this is politics) gunning for Starmer from day one.

But if we are going to look at the culpability of all those involved, then I think it is quite fair to raise the issue of the way this has been dealt with by the previous government - to look also at their motivation, and their attitude towards child sex abuse in general, and in these particular cases - including those within our care institutions and religious establishments, not just the networks of taxi-drivers in Oldham, Rochdale, etc.

Sex abuse, rape - of children and young people appears to be epidemic. So of there is to be a public inquiry, it needs to be all encompassing.

Meanwhile, the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry need to be implemented - because a full public inquiry will possibly take a very long time.

eazybee

Well, Starmer and Phillips have a chance to right wrongs, so why are they refusing?
Concentrate on the here and now.

Well, they’re sorting out the compensation for postmasters and haemophiliacs aren’t they?

eazybee

Well, Starmer and Phillips have a chance to right wrongs, so why are they refusing?
Concentrate on the here and now.

No. Why would we attempt to expunge the past and put all the onus on the current government? You can’t blame people who don’t have the memories of fish being annoyed at the bile now for wrongs that could have been righted years ago. They are all culpable.