Robert Jenrick has hit out at Keir Starmer and the Labour Party over the stalled national grooming gangs inquiry.

Speaking on GB News, Mr Jenrick called the situation a “total disgrace”, saying Sir Keir initially resisted the inquiry and that survivors tasked with preparatory work have now resigned, citing “demeaning” treatment by the Home Office and ministers.

Mr Jenrick criticised the inquiry’s scope, saying it has been diluted to avoid focusing on the religious element of the scandals and argued that Sir Keir is “too fearful” to tackle the issue due to concerns about Labour councils and the sectarian vote.

The Shadow Justice Secretary said: “Yeah, it’s a total disgrace. Let’s be honest Keir Starmer never wanted this inquiry in the first place.

“His MPs voted against it time and again. Eventually, earlier this year, he agreed to do it, but now, four months later, it still doesn’t even exist.

“All he’s managed to do so far is set up a panel. Some of the bravest of the brave, the survivors who began the preparatory work for the inquiry, have now resigned.

When asked why the Prime Minister did not want this inquiry, Mr Jenrick explained: “Well, I think he didn’t want it for two principal reasons.

“One, because he didn’t want to embarrass the Labour councils in parts of the country where grooming gangs have been prevalent, and where council leaders and officials did nothing to tackle the issue in some cases, may have been part of the cover-up.

“Secondly, he’s worried about upsetting the sectarian vote that the Labour Party is losing in some of those areas. So he was too fearful to take on this issue.

“He also can’t accept that the ideology he’s been part of that multiculturalism is an unalloyed success is not correct.

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“We have imported some people over the last 30 or 40 years with terrible attitudes towards women and girls, and that’s driving, in part, these appalling scandals like grooming gangs.

“Starmer just wants to bury his head in the sand he can’t accept what’s really going on in our country.”

Fiona Goddard and Ellie Reynolds, both survivors of grooming gangs, announced yesterday that they were resigning as advisers amid concerns that Sir Keir Starmer’s Government was not listening to victims.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch went further, calling on the Prime Minister to scrap the current inquiry and start again.

The backlash comes after Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips told the House of Commons last month that the Government “would not lose any more time in pursuing truth and justice for victims and survivors.”

Despite this, no timetable has been set and no chairman has been appointed.

Downing Street yesterday refused to commit to a schedule for the inquiry, warning against “speculation” while the process continues. A spokesman said the Government’s priority was to “get it right.”