Up next in 10
WATCH: Heidi Alexander blasts Conservatives for taking 'zero action' on grooming gangs
Jun 17, 2025
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was fiercely grilled on GB News by host Ben Leo over Labour's national grooming gangs inquiry, as he questioned the true scale of the investigation.In a major U-turn by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a national statutory inquiry into the rape gangs scandal.FULL STORY HERE.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Well, we're talking, of course, about the grooming gang scandal
0:02
The Casey Report finally presented to Parliament yesterday. Let's speak to the government now, shall we
0:07
And the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, who joins us this morning. Good to see you, Heidi Alexander
0:14
Let's start, shall we, talking about the Sassel Inquiry, which you have launched
0:18
but only after the Prime Minister described it as a far-right bandwagon
0:23
And you've got the likes of Lucy Powell describing it as an issue which is a dog whistle
0:27
and also talking about a little trumpet as well. Do you have concerns that you've pushed away victims
0:34
from engaging in this process, engaging with this national inquiry with your language
0:42
No, I think we've been clear that the most important thing for this government is the protection of vulnerable children
0:49
and we need to stamp out this vile crime that is being perpetrated by these grooming gangs
0:55
We're determined to do that And we need to ensure justice for the victims who have endured being ignored for far too long
1:05
Now, this government has been in power for 11 months. This issue spans back many decades
1:12
The Conservative Party, who were in government for 14 years, had 20 months between the publication of the Jay Report which followed the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse there were a number of recommendations there There were 20 months before the general election happened
1:28
They took precisely zero action. When we came in, we got on with implementing those recommendations from the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse
1:39
The Home Secretary in January also ordered police forces across the country to reopen closed cases
1:47
And as a result of that, over 800 cases that relate to grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation have been reopened
1:58
Of course, the Prime Minister, in addition to those local reviews that were underway in some places
2:04
asked Baroness Louise Casey, who is an independent, very well-respected public servant
2:09
to do a national rapid audit of what evidence there was about whether there should be a national inquiry
2:18
Louise Casey herself, at the start of that process, said that she, at the beginning
2:23
didn't think that there was a need for one. She came to a different conclusion
2:26
as she went around the country and collated evidence. She then made a recommendation to the Prime Minister
2:33
in a report that she submitted about a week ago. within days the Prime Minister reviewed that report read every page of it and has said that he will be accepting all of the recommendations And that why you saw the Home Secretary stand up in the House of Commons yesterday and announce that we will take forward that national inquiry
2:52
with the power to compel witnesses and compel evidence being provided so that once and for all we can stamp out these vile, heinous crimes
3:02
And I should just say, I don't care who is committing these crimes
3:06
I don't care what the colour of their skin is. They should be brought to justice and the victims should be listened to and should get the justice that they deserve
3:18
I would say, Secretary of State, that the colour of their skin and their ethnicity does matter because these white British girls were targeted specifically because of their race
3:26
So I would push back on that fact. Just in terms of the inquiry, it's been revealed that Whitehall, Parliament, politicians will be exempt from the inquiry
3:38
So in actual fact, it's not a full inquiry, is it? If we've got civil servants who won't be brought before a judge, that's not a full national inquiry, is it? Why is Whitehall excluded in this way
3:48
I've got to tell you the line is really very difficult and so I haven't heard in detail
3:57
the question that you asked but I think you were asking me whether this is a full national inquiry
4:04
I can tell you that it is being set up under the inquiries Act It will be a national inquiry with the ability to compel evidence from individuals
4:15
and compel evidence being provided by organisations. It will sit alongside the local inquiries so that we can provide some oversight and overview to it
4:28
But it is going to be a national inquiry set up under the Inquiries Act
4:33
one of the things that Louise Casey did say and I think she is right to say
4:37
is that when you think about the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that took place
4:43
under the last government, that took seven years and I don't think anyone would suggest
4:50
for one moment that we can wait another seven years to get to the bottom of this and so
4:55
we probably do need to operate it in a slightly different way but there will be
4:59
no stone left unturned in providing justice for the victims of these heinous and horrific crimes
5:08
And just very quickly on this, because I know we need to get on to what you're here to talk to us about today
5:14
But in terms of launch... She's gone, unfortunately. We'll endeavour to get her back
5:21
We were going to be talking about the Transport Secretary has secured a major rail supply deal
5:25
to protect thousands of British steel jobs. It's a £500 million rail contract
5:29
We'll give you some more details of that as the show goes on
#Government
#news
#Politics
#Violence & Abuse