Telford MP to protest at gagging by council Snub on meeting to debate abuse inquiry
AN MP who helped expose grooming gangs in Telford will join victims in a protest against council chiefs after they gagged her ahead of a debate on holding an inquiry.
Local Tory MP Lucy Allan campaigned for 18 months and first asked the Government for a probe in 2016.
But council leader Shaun Davies and nine other officials told Home Secretary Amber Rudd it was not needed.
Our horrific exposé then revealed gangs in the Shropshire town could have abused up to 1,000 girls over 40 years while authorities failed to act.
In a major U-turn, the Labour administration has now admitted an inquiry is needed and leader Shaun Davies said: “A council inquiry is better than no inquiry.”
The Tory group tabled a motion calling for a council-led probe to start as soon as possible, which will be debated on Tuesday. But Mr Davies told Ms Allan she cannot address the meeting as there is no time for “public questions”.
She will now join victims on Tuesday as they wear gags in a silent protest against the authority. Ms Allan: “By speaking about child sexual exploitation we can tackle its causes and heal victims. Telford authorities said we did not need an independent investigation. But they granted a meeting to debate the issue, where councillors could then vote. “Victims, their families and our community deserved a voice in this. So it was right that the MP should speak. This request was refused. “It is the actions of the authorities which tell you why there is still a problem with child sexual exploitation.” Mr Davies said he made his decision after speaking to survivors of abuse. But sources say he had pressure from angry Labour members. He has set aside £350,000 for a local probe but claimed it would not have the same independence as a Governmentled inquiry. It is understood the review will not be commissioned until talks with the national abuse inquiry on its work in Telford are complete, as Mr Davies hopes it will take charge. Nine men aged 20 to 47 have been held on suspicion of child sex crimes in Derby. Police said the probe was in its early stages.