A Labour and Tory MP have joined forces to write to Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips expressing their concern about the grooming gang inquiry process.
Labour MP Sarah Champion, who represents Rotherham, urged the minister to provide an update on the progress of the inquiry alongside Robbie Moore, the Tory MP for Keighley and Ilkley.
The pair said they "strongly believe" that the inquiry should be "tightly focused", expressing concerns that the inquiry avoids the "sprawling scope that hindered" the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, chaired by former social worker Alexis Jay.
They said that such a scope would weaken "its impact and confidence in its conclusions".
Their concerns were shared after GB News revealed this week that survivors engaging with the Home Office on the inquiry process said they feared the probe could be weakened by expanding the terms of reference.
The victims on a panel being consulted by the Government, speaking anonymously, said they were worried that the inquiry could look into broader child sexual exploitation cases, diluting its focus.
They also feared that it might look at regions instead of specific areas, with one survivor warning this could "dilute" the probe.
They warned that the expansion of the inquiry beyond grooming and into wider areas would "majorly water down" the process and "push the grooming gang scandal to the backburner, avoid in-depth looks into councils and avoid any kind of accountability."
The MPs have expressed concern over recent reports
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Sarah Champion MP and Robbie Moore MP said they 'strongly believe' that the inquiry should be 'tightly focused'
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The pair of MPs went on to warn that such a scope would weaken 'its impact and confidence in its conclusions'
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The pair of MPs said that, four months after the inquiry was announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, "there remains no clarity on its scope, its remit, its terms of reference or the resources at its disposal".
They added: "While we recognise the importance of finding the right chair, it is vital that the Inquiry begins its work as soon as possible."
Their intervention comes after GB News revealed that two prospective chairs of the inquiry were set to meet the panel of survivors next week.
The Home Office was approached for comment.
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