‘Not about politics!’ Tory MP backs Bradford City’s Reform leader demanding area be included in grooming gangs inquiry

Tory MP Robbie Moore has thrown his support behind Bradford City Council’s new Reform leader, Stephen Place, demanding the area be included in the national grooming gangs inquiry.

The Keighley and Ilkley representative has long called for an independent investigation into grooming gangs in the district.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Moore said it was “not about politics” as he celebrated the move from the newly elected council leader.

Mr Place has written to Baroness Anne Longfield, who chairs the inquiry, requesting that the entire district be included in the national grooming gang investigation.

He called on her to “ensure that the Bradford and wider district, to include Keighley, is fully included within the national enquiry into CSE and gang-related grooming”.

“This was one of my first acts as leader of the council.

“If Bradford district is not included, then we will undertake all steps necessary to begin the process of an independent inquiry,” he said.

Reacting to the news, Mr Moore said: “It's the right thing for them to do.

“I'm very pleased that Councillor Place has got behind my long-standing calls for having a spotlight, an independent investigation and inquiry across Keighley and the wider Bradford district.

“I very much welcome that move following the letter which I sent to him that was co-signed by Fiona Goddard and David Greenwood, who is a leading child abuse lawyer in the Bradford district.”

GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope asked: “This is a Reform Council, of course, doing this. Is there any kind of a political play here?”

“This shouldn't be about politics at all,” the Keighley and Ilkley MP said.

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“This should be about the difference between calling out what is right and what is wrong.

“I have openly said that I am fearful that the scale of the issue across the Bradford district will dwarf that of Rotherham and Rochdale, Telford and anywhere else that has had the local inquiries previously.

“So it is the right thing for the leader of the council to do,” he said.

Mr Moore also called on other council leaders around the country to come forward with similar requests.

“Charlie Peters and many others have highlighted the fact that there could be up to, if not more than 50 locations, 50 towns across the country, which definitely need to be explored.

“I would encourage any local authority to come forward and request, in fact, demand that if they feel that there is a need for their areas to also be included as part of that national inquiry, as Bradford had done.”