Abuse survivors call for Jess Phillips to resign, accusing her of mishandling national inquiry

Survivors of grooming gang abuse have demanded that Jess Phillips resign as minister overseeing the Government’s national inquiry, accusing her of “betraying victims” and watering down the investigation into one of the country’s most harrowing scandals.

The inquiry, set up to examine decades of child sexual exploitation across towns and cities in England, has descended into chaos after survivors publicly challenged Ms Phillips’s handling of the probe. They allege that Labour’s promised victim-led approach has been sidelined and that their concerns are being dismissed.

Several survivors — including women abused as children in Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford — released statements saying they were “ignored and silenced” by the minister. They accused Ms Phillips of failing to meet with survivor groups and claimed she “shut down dialogue” when they raised fears that the inquiry was being diluted for political convenience.

In an open letter, the women said they were coming forward “with evidence” that the inquiry had lost direction under Phillips’s watch. “We have been retraumatised by this process,” the letter said. “Promises of a survivor-focused investigation have been broken. We no longer have confidence in Jess Phillips to lead this inquiry with integrity or empathy.”

The letter, signed by more than a dozen victims and campaigners, called on the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to intervene immediately, demanding Phillips step aside to restore public trust.

At the heart of the row are claims that the inquiry’s scope has been narrowed and that experienced independent figures who initially advised on its design have been sidelined. Some survivors allege that their testimonies — detailing grooming, abuse and failures by police and social services — have not been properly recorded or taken seriously.

Phillips, who was appointed Minister for Safeguarding, rejected the accusations and insisted the investigation remained robust and independent. “I utterly refute any suggestion that the inquiry is being watered down,” she said in a statement. “This Government remains fully committed to delivering justice for survivors and learning lessons to ensure such atrocities never happen again.”

She said the inquiry would continue to consult victims and that she had “deep respect” for their bravery in coming forward. “Survivors’ voices will be at the heart of this process,” she added.

But that reassurance did little to quell anger among campaigners. Maggie Oliver, a former police officer and whistleblower whose work exposed failures in the Rochdale grooming scandal, said the inquiry was “descending into chaos”. She accused ministers of losing focus on accountability. “The victims who have suffered unimaginable abuse are being failed again — this time by the very people who promised to listen,” she said.

One survivor, identified only as Sarah, told reporters: “We thought Jess Phillips understood. She has spoken about standing with victims for years. But now she’s in power, it feels like she’s forgotten us. It’s heartbreaking.”

Others pointed to confusion and lack of transparency over who is leading specific elements of the inquiry. Sources close to the investigation described “deep frustration” among staff, claiming that internal disagreements and political interference had delayed progress.

Critics also questioned whether the inquiry would retain the independence necessary to examine institutional failures involving police forces, local councils and public officials — including those accused of ignoring or covering up abuse for decades.

The row represents a major setback for Labour’s flagship initiative, which was launched amid promises to rebuild confidence after years of scandal, from Rotherham to Telford and Oxford, where grooming gangs operated with impunity while authorities turned a blind eye.

For survivors, the stakes could not be higher. “We have spent years fighting to be heard,” said one signatory to the letter. “This was supposed to be our chance to finally tell the truth and get justice. Instead, it feels like history is repeating itself.”

As of Tuesday night, neither Downing Street nor the Home Office had commented on the survivors’ calls for Phillips’s resignation.