Farage Criticises Burnham’s Record on Grooming Gangs Ahead of Makerfield By-Election

Nigel Farage told The Telegraph that Andy Burnham failed the grooming gang victims, will fail the people of Makerfield, would be a disaster for the economy and would betray every Brexit voter in the constituency. Farage added that Open Borders Burnham must be stopped.

Maggie Oliver, a former detective constable and GMP whistleblower, accused Andy Burnham of falling at the final hurdle regarding grooming gang issues.

Oliver said that in Mr Burnham and GMP there was a willingness to say there had been huge failures in the past but when looking at action around failures still going on today there truly was no duty of candour on display. "Instead, they turned away. Again," Oliver continued.

"Once again, the voices of those victims and survivors whose voices should have been front and centre of this report were totally silenced and blocked out of the assurance review, making it worthless. " Andy Burnham became Greater Manchester metro mayor in 2017. He then set up reviews into allegations of child sexual exploitation in Manchester and Rochdale.

The reviews exposed institutional failings including authorities turning a blind eye to abuse by predominantly Pakistani men against white girls. More than 100 people were arrested following the investigation into child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester. Multiple convictions were secured.

The final assurance review concluded there had been significant improvements in tackling child sex abuse. Andy Burnham broke ranks with Labour to back a limited national inquiry into the gangs months before the Prime Minister confirmed a full probe. The Prime Minister accused those who called for a national inquiry of jumping on a far-right bandwagon.

The statutory independent inquiry into group-based sexual exploitation of children in England and Wales was announced in June and has now formally started. Maggie Oliver will not stand as Reform UK's candidate in Makerfield. Reform UK's candidate selection process for Makerfield is still underway.

Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield councillor Robert Kenyon is among the leading names to stand as Reform UK's candidate in Makerfield, as is home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf. Andy Burnham told the BBC he wants to stand in the Makerfield by-election currently set for mid-June. He told the BBC that Labour has not been good enough and requires a lot of change.

"We've got to see this as a moment to reclaim the Labour Party, to save it from where it's been," Burnham said. Rupert Lowe confirmed that Restore Britain will field a candidate in the Makerfield by-election. Lowe cited overwhelming demand from local members for Restore Britain to field a candidate in Makerfield.

The Green Party candidate selection for the Makerfield by-election is underway. A spokesman for the Greater Manchester combined authority said that Mr Burnham's stage four review had found clear evidence that Greater Manchester has responded to those historic failings and made real changes. The spokesman added that we are not complacent and we continue to drive improvements across our system.

"Nothing can make up for what happened to the victims of these crimes but we are determined that they will be listened to and protected and the perpetrators will be brought to justice," the spokesman said. GB News reported that Farage is planning to stop Burnham, whom he called the "King in the North," from marching south to seize power in Downing Street.

The Reform leader also attacked Burnham's support for Britain rejoining the European Union.

Oliver claimed the final assurance review had not given survivors their voice.