Kemi Badenoch has been praised for launching an “alternative grooming gangs inquiry” after survivors “lost faith in Labour”, a former political adviser has told GB News.

The Conservative leader will make the announcement today, setting out the terms of the new national investigation, developed with direction from abuse survivors.

In a statement ahead of her conference, she said: “This is about survivors and what they want. We must give a voice to the voiceless.”

“They have told us what an inquiry must include in order to obtain justice. This is what the terms of reference sets out.”

The Tories will reveal their draft terms of reference, which has been lauded by a GB News guest.

Former political adviser Oscar Reddrop heaped praise on the North West Essex MP for the Tories’ decision after Labour’s national inquiry became riddled with controversy since its start.

“It’s a big day for Kemi and the work that she’s been doing with a lot of the survivors around the grooming gang, a horrific scandal,” Mr Reddrop said.

“A lot of the survivors have completely lost faith in the Government’s national inquiry that [Labour], as we all know, were dragged to the table kicking and screaming.”

Hitting out at the Government’s lack of terms of reference, he added: “I understand the inquiries of this intensity and weight, are complex and do take time, but not to have those official terms out in terms of what we’re really honing in on is laughable.”

GB News host Ellie Costello weighed in on the matter, agreeing that it was “ridiculous” Labour had not even named a chairman to lead the inquiry.

“Kemi is right alongside survivors,” Mr Reddrop continued, “And this is the good work that Kemi is doing on it. She’s she’s actually kind of almost getting out of the way of it.

“She’s just letting these survivors set those terms.”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Kemi Badenoch to unveil ‘alternative rape gangs inquiry’ with focus on groomers’ religion and ethnicity
• Keir Starmer faces threat to premiership as Labour group canvasses party for new leader candidates
• Met Police issues update on Heathrow ‘pepper spray’ attack as three-year-old treated for injuries

“There are criticisms that she’s only doing it now to politicise and to get political leverage over this,” Ellie pointed out, to which Mr Reddrop admitted it was “horrific the Tories didn’t do anything about it”.

He further lauded the Tory leader of “really honing in on the squirmy things”, such as religion and ethnicity, which have previously caused discomfort among politicians.

“Survivors have said, of course, survivors have time for that, they just want to drive right at the heart of the facts,” he added.

“And it’ll be interesting to see the Labour Government’s reaction today. They need to get a move on with this.”

A Labour spokesman accused the Tories of failing to take action against the rape gangs in the party’s 14 years in power.

“Their record on this issue is clear: they had years to take action on this appalling scandal, yet time and time again they failed to do so,” he said.

“This Labour Government accepted all the recommendations from Baroness Casey’s report and we are committed to a full, statutory, national inquiry to uncover the truth.

“It will be robust, rigorous and laser-focused on grooming gangs, and its scope will not change.

“The inquiry will direct and oversee local investigations, with the power to compel witnesses and summon evidence. And it will explicitly examine the background, ethnicity and culture of offenders.”

Survivor Fiona Goddard resigned from the inquiry last month, saying in her resignation letter that the “toxic, fearful environment” led to her departure.

Fellow victim Ellie Reynolds explained that the final turning point for her was “the push to widen the remit of the national inquiry in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse”.

Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter