The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd has accused other politicians of shutting him down over calls for a Wales-wide inquiry into grooming gangs. Darren Millar said a statutory inquiry covering Wales and England, announced by theprime minister on Saturday, was "welcome but long overdue". In February,the Senedd rejected calls for a Welsh inquiry, but members voted unanimously that the Welsh government should consider one. The Welsh government has been asked to comment. Millar also accused theSenedd's Presiding Officer Elin Jones of "inappropriately interrupting"him during a question about grooming gangs in January. A freedom of information request made by BBC Wales in March revealed Welsh police forces had identifiedno current widespread issues with grooming gangs. Responding to the new inquiry Millar said: "Every month of delay in getting to this position has caused even more hurt to those brave victims who have spoken out about their harrowing experiences and campaigned for justice. "When I raised the need for an inquiry in the Senedd back in January, other politicians tried to shut me down, but it made me all the more determined to fight for the vulnerable victims of these crimes," he added. Millar also said Wales should not be an "afterthought" for the new inquiry. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a U-turn by opposition parties in Westminster after months of rejecting a new inquiry. He changed his mind after an audit led by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to make a statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday and the Casey report will be published alongside it. In January, the Welsh Tory leader and the Senedd's presiding officer clashed after Millar relayed the experiences of abuse survivor Emily Vaughn, who goes under a pseudonym, and who suffered some of the abuse in Wales. Ms Vaughn later accused Jones of"downplaying" her experience. Jones said she had been "seeking to protect victims of abuse" and that she was "not sufficiently aware" that Vaughn had spoken publicly before. Millar said the new inquiry was a "vindication" for Ms Vaughn's courage and bravery. A previous independent inquiry into the sexual abuse of children was led by Prof Alexis Jay and reported in 2022.
I was shut down on grooming gangs, says Tory leader
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"Welsh Conservative Leader Calls for Inquiry into Grooming Gangs Amid Political Pushback"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Darren Millar, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, has voiced his frustration over being silenced by fellow politicians regarding his calls for a comprehensive inquiry into grooming gangs operating in Wales. Millar described the recent announcement of a statutory inquiry encompassing both Wales and England by the Prime Minister as "welcome but long overdue." In February, the Senedd had previously dismissed calls for a dedicated Welsh inquiry, although they did unanimously agree that the Welsh government should contemplate one. This ongoing debate has drawn attention to the issue of child sexual abuse, particularly as Millar accused the Presiding Officer of the Senedd, Elin Jones, of interrupting him inappropriately during discussions about the matter. A freedom of information request by BBC Wales revealed that local police forces have not identified any widespread issues with grooming gangs currently, raising questions about the extent of the problem in Wales.
In response to the new inquiry, Millar emphasized the detrimental effects of delays on victims seeking justice, stating that each month of inaction has compounded the suffering of those who bravely shared their experiences. He expressed determination to advocate for vulnerable victims, stressing that Wales should not be overlooked in the new inquiry process. The shift in stance from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who faced criticism from opposition parties for previously rejecting the inquiry, followed an audit led by Baroness Louise Casey, which scrutinized data on group-based child sexual abuse. Millar described the forthcoming inquiry as a validation of the courage shown by abuse survivor Emily Vaughn, who had previously recounted her traumatic experiences, and highlighted the need for proper acknowledgment and action regarding such critical issues. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is expected to address the House of Commons soon, coinciding with the publication of the Casey report, which aims to shed light on the complexities surrounding child sexual abuse cases.
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