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The government’s new inquiry into child grooming gangs is now paralysed.

Four survivors have quit — and now demand that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips and their victim liaison officer both step down before they will return.

Here‘s the BBC:

The four women have accused Phillips of “betrayal” over a letter where she described reports the scope of the inquiry could be expanded as “untrue”.

They also called for their victim liaison officer to go and, along with Phillips’ exit, said this would mean the government was “serious about accountability”, as well as continuing to call for a judge to chair the inquiry.

Children’s Minister Josh MacAlister has said Phillips has the “full backing of the prime minister and home secretary” and will not be asked to go.

Note that the accusations of “betrayal” came after Phillips wrote a letter dismissing reports that the inquiry’s scope could be widened as “untrue”.

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That choice of language — essentially calling the survivors liars — has reignited their trauma. They say being contradicted by a minister has taken them “right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again”.

If these women are to have any faith in the process, their conditions are perfectly reasonable.

• A judge as chair would guarantee independence and authority — precisely what’s missing.

• If Phillips has been two-faced about the inquiry’s direction, then she has no business remaining in charge. Nobody who misleads survivors belongs in a safeguarding role.

• As for the victim liaison officer, that’s a matter of trust. If survivors no longer believe that person is on their side, replacing them should be a basic step toward rebuilding confidence.

The government’s refusal to concede on any of these points only strengthens suspicions that it is trying to control or contain the inquiry rather than uncover the truth.

A truly independent process would welcome scrutiny and survivor input. A compromised one — like this — circles the wagons.

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