Grooming inquiry plunged into chaos as potential chair withdraws just hours after two survivors quit

Ms Hudson, a former director of children's services at the London Borough of Lambeth and Bristol City Council, was appointed chairwoman of the child safeguarding practice review panel in December 2020.

She has previously overseen high-profile national reviews, including the one into the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson in 2022, which recommended the creation of dedicated multi-agency child protection units.

Former police officer Jim Gamble was also shortlisted to chair the inquiry.

Ms Hudson's withdrawal from the process came just hours after two grooming gang victims walked away from the victims and survivors liaison panel set up as part of the inquiry over fears of being "silenced".

In her letter of resignation, Bradford abuse victim Fiona Goddard alleged the "secretive conduct and conditions imposed on survivors" on the Victims/Survivor Liaison Panel had led to a "toxic, fearful environment".

Fellow victim Ellie-Ann Reynolds also resigned, saying: "The final turning point for [her] was the push to widen the remit of the National Inquiry in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse."

The panel is supporting the Government’s national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, which Sir Keir Starmer ordered earlier this year, after a report by Baroness Louise Casey found that there were still widespread problems with how the state understood and tackled the issue.

Ms Goddard said there were a "multitude of issues" that led to her resignation and described "serious concern" with the ongoing process of the inquiry.

She wrote in her letter: "The dynamics of this inquiry, including potential chairs and progress, should have been conducted openly and honestly by the Government, and survivors should have had the choice to voice their opinions if they decided to.

"Instead, the secretive conduct and conditions imposed on survivors have led to a toxic, fearful environment, and there is a high risk of people feeling silenced all over again. As such, I have made the difficult decision to leave the Victims/Survivor Liaison Panel, and not continue with the meetings this week."

Ms Goddard also cited concerns around "certain members of the panel" and their connections with "members of the Labour Government", which "presents conflict of interest and incentives".

A third victim, who goes by the pseudonym Elizabeth, then announced she was leaving the panel this afternoon.

She told The People's Channel she was resigning because she feared there was a lack of "genuine understanding of the grooming gangs scandal".

The Rotherham survivor also pointed to what she described as a "sense of control and stage-management" that she said had left many of her fellow victims of grooming gangs "questioning whether our voices truly matter".

Elizabeth secured a conviction against one of her perpetrators Ashgar Bostan following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

The campaigner said she joined the panel "in the hope of helping to bring real change — to ensure that no survivor would ever again have to fight to be heard".

She added: "Sadly, I no longer believe that this panel is delivering the truth, transparency, and accountability that survivors deserve."

Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said the survivor engagement process was being handled by an independent charity called NWG.

She said there had been "misinformation" shared about the process.

The Home Office said in a statement yesterday: "The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.

Any suggestion that this inquiry is being watered down is completely wrong, we are committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for.

"We are working urgently to appoint the best Chair to take forward this work and deliver justice, putting victims and survivors at the heart of the process.

"We are grateful to all those who have shared their insights with us.

"We share the concerns around unhelpful speculation while this process is live - which is why we will not be providing a running commentary."