Michael Gove confirms attempted grooming gangs 'cover-up' by Whitehall officials: 'It was absolutely vital that the truth be told'

Gove revealed: "We contacted Rotherham Council and said we do want to intervene in this case, but on behalf of The Times, because it is absolutely vital that the truth be told."

The Labour Government announced their U-turn on holding a national grooming gangs inquiry following a review by Baroness Louise Casey and widespread criticism across the political spectrum.

Despite branding previous calls for an inquiry as "jumping on the far-right bandwagon," the Labour leader now admits it is "the right thing to do".

Confirming the account made by Dominic Cummings of the attempt, Gove told GB News: "Dominic's account is broadly absolutely correct.

"So Andrew Norfolk, the very brave and sadly deceased reporter at The Times who was responsible more than anyone for initially uncovering the the grooming gang scandal, had been investigating Rotherham.

"It was the case that he wanted to publish details that related to one particularly tragic case. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council at the time didn't want the full details revealed."

Revealing how he was "approached" by the council, he added: "They approached the Government and the Department for Education, where I was Secretary of State at the time, asked us to join them in a legal case in order to prevent the times publishing."

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"I looked at the material alongside Dominic and some other people in the department, and we contacted Rotherham Council and we said, yes, we will intervene in this case, but on behalf of The Times, because it's absolutely vital that the truth be told."

Asked by Charlie whether there were officials in the Department of Education that were against him intervening on behalf of The Times, Gove confirmed: "Yes, it was absolutely the case that there were those who thought that it was appropriate for us not to intervene."

Discussing the documents on the grooming gangs case in question, Gove said the officials argued that sharing details of the particular case may "adversely affect" other potential victims of the gangs.

Gove explained: "The documents in question revealed some some details about one particular victim, and it was argued by the council and by some officials who were sympathetic to their case, that revealing everything about the case might mean that other potential victims, other family members, might be adversely affected.

"There was also an argument that the council itself was making improvements, and as a result of these improvements being made, that would be imperilled, potentially if there were adverse publicity."

Discussing the upcoming national inquiry into grooming gangs, Charlie questioned Gove on whether he has concerned about Whitehall being "excluded" from any investigation.

Gove stated: "I absolutely think that the inquiry should be much more than what it might appear to be at the moment.

"At the moment it appears that the Government may default and make the national inquiry simply an umbrella for lots of specific local inquiries.

"As you have revealed, there are as many as 50 towns and cities across the country in which these gangs have operated or continue to operate.

"There are failures in policing at a national level that need to be addressed, and it is also the case that decisions that were made within the Home Office and other Government departments do need to be scrutinised."