Contributions
1,528 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryI do not disagree with the right hon. Gentleman. Most of what I see reported on anything in this space is largely inaccurate and often comes with an agenda, more so than in the…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryAll I can say is that there is a reason that I cannot stand in front of the victims, who I am meant to be getting feedback from right now, and definitely say when the chair will…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryTo go back to the previous answer, the chair of the inquiry will set the tone for the inquiry. That is why we have to put in place the right chair and a system for victims who…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryMy hon. Friend, who I know has some experience of inquiries from her previous life, is exactly right. People do not remember it now, but there were victims going out in the press…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryI thank the hon. Gentleman for both his tone and his approach. As per the Inquiries Act 2005, the terms of reference have to be set and consulted on with the chair. The chair is…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryThe right hon. Gentleman cannot have listened to my remarks at all if he is suggesting that the Government have silenced anybody. The Government have not handled the process; it…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryAs I have said, I would very much hope to hear those concerns directly from Ellie herself and to see what can be done. I only know the victims who I have worked with—when they…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryIt is quite impressive that the hon. Member says that after a grooming victim has stood up and spoken from these Benches, but I have learned to expect it. He talks about a…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryAs stated in my previous statement to the House on 2 September and in my letter to the Home Affairs Committee yesterday, the Government remain resolute in delivering Baroness…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryCan I be completely clear? I am suggesting that I will listen completely and utterly to the feedback from the victims who were on the panel and those who still are. They are not…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryI thank my hon. Friend. I think she mischaracterises me as the fiercest of advocates because she, as a grooming victim, with a child born of rape, is the fiercest and bravest. I…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryFirst, while the inquiry is in England and Wales, one of the victims who we have been hearing about today—Ellie—lives very much in the borderland of our two great countries of…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryI absolutely share the hon. Gentleman’s upset and frustration on the matter. He knows that when I say that I will do whatever I can to ensure that these problems are sorted out,…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryIn answer to the first question, I have every power to intervene in the panel’s process, but the decision I made was that it should be independent of me and my offices, and would…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryI absolutely regret that they have resigned from the process. Funnily enough, in the particular instance of one of the people, I have had no involvement in that process. I do not…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryYes, that is because of you lot.21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryThe simple answer is yes. My hon. Friend is absolutely right on his first point. What we should all seek to be doing throughout this is to try to grease the wheels so that we can…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryI really hope so, but I am not going to do what other people seem to want to do in this circumstance and pretend that there is a guarantee and that I have some sort of magic…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryWhile the inquiry is ongoing, that will be a matter for the chair. However, I know from the inquiries that I have been involved in that were successful and victim-centric that…21 Oct 2025HANSARD Rape Gangs: National Statutory InquiryFirst and foremost, I absolutely confirm that that will not happen. Not only that, but I confirm that the Home Office has asked police forces across the country to collect data on…21 Oct 2025