Grooming gangs inquiry ‘descends into chaos’ as potential chairwoman pulls out just a day after abuse victims blasted ‘toxic’ culture

A candidate to lead the grooming gangs inquiry has pulled out as Labour’s scheme ‘descends into chaos’.

The departure of senior social worker Annie Hudson comes after two victims of child sexual abuse resigned from a liaison committee attached to the inquiry, citing a ‘toxic, fearful environment’.

The Daily Mail understands there are several candidates left in the race for the job, including former senior police officer Jim Gamble.

It is not known why Ms Hudson has withdrawn her application but it comes a day after abuse survivors Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds resigned from the inquiry’s victims and survivors liaison panel, levelling heavy criticism at the Home Office.

In her resignation letter Ms Goddard said the process so far had involved ‘secretive conduct’ with instances of ‘condescending and controlling language’ used towards survivors.

She also cited a ‘toxic, fearful environment’ and a ‘high risk of people feeling silenced all over again’.

Ms Reynolds said the ‘final turning point’ which prompted her resignation was ‘the push to change the remit, to widen it in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse’.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the inquiry into grooming gangs was ‘descending into chaos’ and repeated his call for a judge to be brought in to chair the process.

Mr Philp said the Government had been ‘forced’ into announcing the inquiry amid allegations that abuse by mainly Pakistani grooming gangs was covered up by local authorities, and that officials including police had failed to act.

He told MPs: ‘Perhaps that is why, months later, the Government has said nothing substantive publicly and their inquiry is descending into chaos.

‘What we have heard publicly is that victims and survivors on the liaison panel have no confidence in the Government and no confidence in the inquiry.’

He said a liaison officer with the inquiry, Sabah Kaiser, should have no further role after saying that the majority of perpetrators were of Pakistani heritage was ‘destructive’.

‘Victims and survivors have also questioned the suitability of former police officers or social workers to chair the inquiry,’ Mr Philp said in the Commons.

‘They do not believe people from professions that failed them so badly are suitable.

‘So will the minister accept this feedback and appoint a judge to lead the inquiry?

‘Will the minister confirm the scope of this inquiry will not be diluted as both Fiona (Goddard) and Ellie-Ann (Reynolds) are now saying is happening, and confirm it will focus on the cover-up of the rape gang scandal, because the majority of perpetrators were of Pakistani origin.’

Responding to Mr Philp’s urgent question in the Commons, safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said: ‘Not all victims and survivors are of the same opinion.

‘They are not one homogenous group of people, who all think the same thing, who all want the same exposure, who all want their identities known.’

She added: ‘The appointment of the chair is at a critical stage, and we hope to confirm the conclusion of this soon.’