Grooming gang survivors split over Jess Phillips’ future as probe hangs in the balance

However, five other members of the inquiry's advisory panel have threatened to walk away if Mrs Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, is ousted from her role.

The group, including a woman who was abused in Oldham from the age of 12, said Mrs Phillips had "devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard".

They said: "Jess Phillips MP has remained impartial to the process, only listening to feedback, we want her to remain in position for the duration of the process for consistency.

"Her previous experience and drive to reduce VAWG (violence against women and girls) and her clear passion and commitment is important to us."

The survivors said they had asked for the scope to be larger than grooming gangs.

"Jess was clear that the focus would be on grooming gangs, however survivors in the group explained that they would be excluded for not fitting the generalised stereotype of what that is and should focus on CSE (child sexual exploitation)."

The letter was signed by Samantha Walker-Roberts, Scarlett Jones and Caitlin Spencer, as well as two survivors using the pseudonyms Claire and Katie.

A Government source has said it could take "months" to find a chair for the national inquiry.

There are no candidates left in the running after former police officer Jim Gamble and Annie Hudson, a former director of children’s services for Lambeth, both withdrew.

The Government is taking urgent steps to find new candidates after the exit of "leading" option Mr Gamble, the source said, but ministers will "take the time, likely months", to appoint the right chair.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he "of course" has faith in Ms Phillips, as other ministers also rallied around her.

It came after four of those who quit the panel, Ellie-Ann Reynolds, Fiona Goddard, Elizabeth Harper and a woman signed only as "Jessica" sent a letter with conditions that must be met for them to return.

Those include Ms Phillips standing down, for the inquiry to be "laser-focused" on grooming gangs, and for its chair to be a former or sitting judge.

They criticised Ms Phillips for labelling some of their claims about the scope of the inquiry being widened "untrue", and said they had provided evidence to the contrary.

The Government will now re-engage with survivors to listen to their concerns and take their opinions on who they want to lead the inquiry, according to the source.

Baroness Louise Casey, who has been drafted in to support the work of the probe, will work closely with the Government on finding a new field of candidates for chair.

Mr Gamble said he had pulled out of the appointment process because of a "lack of confidence" in him among some survivors because of his police background.

He also hit out at politicians "playing games" with the inquiry and said victims had been "disrespected and misinformed."

Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch rejected Labour MP and grooming survivor Natalie Fleet’s accusation that she was using victims as a political football, saying the MP had been "trying to sweep this under the carpet".

Asked whether she accepted criticism from the Bolsover MP, who was groomed and raped as a teenager, the Conservative leader said agency: "No, I don’t.

"I’m doing my job, and perhaps if Labour MPs were doing their job we would have a national inquiry. Natalie Fleet voted against a national inquiry three times. She, like other Labour MPs, (has) been trying to sweep this under the carpet.

"That’s why the victims are talking about a cover-up. Four victims resigned from the panel. If I didn’t speak out, I would not be doing my job."