Liberal Democrats put grooming gangs enquiry ahead of Council stalemate

Liberal Democrat group leader Sam Al-Hamdani has written to Prime Minister Kier Starmer, and Minister for Safeguarding, Natalie Fleet, to ensure that there will be no delay to the grooming gangs enquiry caused by the current stalemate at Oldham Council.

The group also wrote to the Council’s chief executive to ensure that the gridlock would have no impact on the Council’s co-operation with the inquiry.

Oldham Liberal Democrat group leader, Sam Al-Hamdani said: “People here know that there are more important things than who wears a set of robes at the front of a meeting. We have spent years fighting for this grooming gangs inquiry, and there can be no delay caused by political infighting.

“I have written to the Government to confirm our commitment to full transparency and an open books policy at the Council as part of the inquiry, and to confirm that we would not support any administration that had anything less than a complete commitment to this.”

The Council’s chief executive has confirmed that despite the stalemate, there would be no impact on the Council’s cooperation and support for the inquiry. 

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “It was obvious to us last year that when the Labour administration politicised the appointment of the Mayor that this is where we would end up. We’re not prepared to let that get in the way of doing our job, and top of our priorities is ensuring that the grooming gangs investigation does its job thoroughly, effectively, and as soon as possible. 

“While I would dearly love to see people find an understanding about who the Mayor should be, our town needs politicians whose focus is first and foremost on turning the tide on abuse and violence in our country.”