Home Office minister Amanda Solloway MP has ruled out an independent public inquiry into child sex exploitation in Oldham.
Oldham’s Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE wrote to the Home Office back in July urging Conservative ministers to open a full and independent public inquiry into the failings of Greater Manchester Police, Oldham Council and other services that resulted in horrendous cases of child sexual abuse.
In his letter to the Home Secretary, Councillor Sykes said: “I hope you will use your position to show people in Oldham that failure to protect children can never be accepted in our public institutions. It is only through meticulously investigating these failings that we can have true accountability and begin to earn back the trust of the people of Oldham.”
But the Home Office has replied stating that “in relation to your request that the Government institute a public inquiry, the Government continues to be clear that it is for the local authorities in individual towns and cities, which are responsible for delivering local services, to commission local inquiries.”
Councillor Sykes said: “It is disappointing that the government is choosing not to act despite clear demand from across Oldham for a government backed inquiry. Ministers are choosing not to listen and not to lift a finger. Conservatives say they want a public inquiry, but their colleagues in London say no!”