The announcement of Scotland’s grooming gangs inquiry has been celebrated as a “significant” step by a Labour MP.
Speaking to GB News, Joani Reid, who has been prominent in campaigning for the inquiry, said this is a “day for the victims of abuse” in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has announced an inquiry into grooming gangs north of the border after a review found enough evidence to warrant further investigation.
Confirming the inquiry on Wednesday, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the Government was “determined to act decisively to protect children”.
She said: “I consider the establishment of a public inquiry to be essential and from discussions I know Professor Jay wants to ensure that the inquiry is carried out at pace.
“Announcing an independent public inquiry today will not cure all which has come before, but it is a statement of intent from this government that we will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.”
Delivering her verdict on the announcement, Ms Reid told GB News: “It’s a really significant announcement for all victims of child sex abuse in Scotland.
“Some of them have been campaigning for this for decades and they’ve been dismissed, stonewalled.
“I was told by the First Minister nearly a year ago that organised child sex abuse doesn’t happen in Scotland like it does in England, then we were told that reviews were sufficient.”
Labour MP Joani Reid has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of a grooming gangs inquiry
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GB NEWS
Celebrating the inquiry’s approval as a “day for the victims of abuse”, the Labour MP added: “But now we finally, and it’s been a long time coming, have a full public review. But it’s a day for the victims, and this is really is down to them.
“They’ve campaigned almost entirely on their own with very little support, so they’re at the first and foremost of my thoughts.”
However, Ms Reid also launched criticism at the SNP for their delay in launching an inquiry, essentially being forced into it following mounting pressure.
She stated: “Credit where credit’s due, but they’ve been dragged kicking and screaming to this point and the evidence has been mounting for some time, not least because of your report.
Charlie Peters has reported extensively on failures in address the grooming gang epidemic in Scotland | PA / GB NEWS
“We’ve had prosecutions, victims have been telling the Scottish Government that more investigation has been required.
“I feel that victims have almost been re-traumatised by the Scottish Government who told them that a proper investigation, a proper review wasn’t necessary.”
Noting that Ms Gilruth has “done the right thing” in the end, the Labour MP said: “It has been a protracted and quite a difficult process, but Jenny has now done the right thing.
“What she hasn’t done though, which I think she really should do, is tell us why she has now reached this decision.
“Only a few weeks ago she said that she was looking for the evidence that would show that a proper investigation, a proper inquiry was necessary, but she hasn’t laid that evidence before Parliament.
“It’s all very secretive and she should do the right thing so that members of the Scottish Parliament can do their job and victims know exactly why this has been announced.”
Ms Reid told GB News that victims have been ‘re-traumatised’ by the SNP
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GB NEWS
Asked by GB News National Reporter Charlie Peters what she would like to see as a result of the inquiry, Ms Reid said she has “confidence” in Professor Alexis Jay to lead the inquiry.
She concluded: “I think that Scotland is really fortunate because we have someone that has the confidence of victims and of experts who’s going to lead this independent inquiry, Professor Alexis Jay.
“She’s done this before in Rotherham and I’m confident that she will be able to come up with a terms of reference and she should be allowed and given the space to develop a terms of reference that she thinks is appropriate to seek the truth and account ability.
“I think everyone is in agreement that she’s that she’s the right person to lead this. I think it’s really important that it works with the review that’s happening in England and Wales, but I also think it’s the right thing that there are two separate investigations.
“Scotland has a different legal system. We have a different police force, but they should work in collaboration, but I’m confident that Alexis Jay will be able to do this properly and effectively.”