Andy Burnham leaving Downing Street (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has backed calls for a national inquiry into grooming despite Sir ’s refusal to launch one.
The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester said he believed there was scope for a “limited ” that draws on local reviews into historic child sexual exploitation.
He said: “I do think there is a case for limited national inquiry that draws on reviews like the one that I commissioned, the one I’ve seen in Rotherham, and the one we saw in Telford.”
But No10 hit back at his calls by insisting a national probe would just be a “delay”.
The Prime Minister’s deputy spokesman said: “It’s only reasonable for people to have a range of views, but his focus and the government’s focus is on action now, not more inquiries or delay.”
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Labour veteran Mr Burnham said several local reviews into abuse in Manchester, Rochdale and Oldham he commissioned were “limited” compared to what a public inquiry could achieve.
He said he was “frustrated” that Westminster politicians had “taken no interest” in the issue when those reports were published.
A row over the issue erupted when tech billionaire made several interventions on his platform X, formerly Twitter.
The Tesla boss repeatedly took aim at Sir Keir’s handling of the issue while director of public prosecutions.
But the Prime Minister is not wavering on whether to set up a new grooming gangs inquiry, his spokesman said.
Asked if he would reject the suggestion the Prime Minister was wavering on his insistence there would not be a fresh inquiry, the spokesman said: “Of course. We will be guided by the victims, and what we’ve heard from the victims is that they don’t want to see another National Inquiry.
“We’ve had a national inquiry, it… engaged 7,000 victims, and what victims are telling us is that they want to see action, and that’s where the Government is focused, and that’s why we’re not going ahead with another national inquiry.
“But as the PM said on Monday, we will always listen to victims, we will always listen to local areas, we always listen to specific allegations or issues as they are put to us, and we will faithfully deal with them, but what we have heard loud and clear from victims is that they want to see action.”