GB News host Nana Akua has shut down a left wing activist after defending Labour’s decision to vote against a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Chris Worrall defended Jess Phillips’ position as Safeguarding Minister during a heated exchange, in which he stressed that Phillips has worked her “whole life” to defend victims of abuse.
In a fresh blow to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has backed calls for a “limited” national inquiry into child grooming gangs.
Burnham emphasised such an inquiry could compel people “who may have charges to answer” to give evidence and be held to account.
Nana Akua shut down Chris Worrall’s claim that Jess Phillips has ‘always advocated’ for the victims of grooming gangs
GB News
Discussing the mounting pressure on Labour, activist Chris Worrall defended Labour’s approach, emphasising Phillips’ career-long commitment to supporting victims and survivors.
He stated: “At the end of the day, we’ve got Jess Phillips, our victims minister, who spent her whole career supporting and helping victims, survivors.”
Hitting back at Worrall, Nana pressed the Labour supporter on why Phillips is “not supporting victims now” in blocking calls for an inquiry.
Nana fumed: “Why is she not doing it now? I hear this all the time, that she’s spent her whole life and career on it, and I really think that’s lovely. But why has she stopped that now?”
Labour whipped MPs to block the vote, whilst Keir Starmer opted to abstain
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In disagreement with Nana, Worrall asserted that Phillips has “never stopped advocating and supporting victims”.
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Nana challenged Worrall’s claims, stating that victims have “braved the media” to demand “accountability”, noting that many perpetrators remain unprosecuted.
Nana said on GB News: “Literally every victim who is brave enough to face the media, because it’s a very frightening thing to do, said that we want these people held to account. A lot of them are still wandering around, having not even been prosecuted.
“It was a whole intricate network of people – the police, the counsellors and of course the abusers all kind of meshed into this together. So I don’t understand why Jess Phillips has decided to stop supporting these people now.”
Worrall defended Labour further by making clear that the Government would rather implement “action not delay”, and not “wait eight years for another inquiry costing £200million”.
Nana Akua grilled Worrall on why Jess Phillips is not acting now to protect grooming gang victims
GB News
Worrall explained: “The action that needs to be taken is implementing the recommendations of the report. A child protection authority, a requirement to report abuse, making it illegal to not report abuse.
“Why wouldn’t they get on with delivering for the victims? That’s what they’re doing by implementing the report recommendations.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended Jess Phillips, telling GB News: “The Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls has dedicated her career to tackling sexual violence and abuse and to being a voice for victims and survivors of the most terrible crimes, including child sexual abuse.”
The Home Office has stated: “No child should ever suffer sexual abuse and exploitation, and it’s paramount that we do more to protect vulnerable children. Which is why we’re working at pace across Government to drive forward real action to implement the recommendations of the independent inquiry.”
