Oldham Council Vows Grooming Inquiry Will Proceed Despite Funding Confusion

Oldham Council’s investigation into historic child sexual exploitation will continue as planned, officials insisted Tuesday, after the government revealed councils must now compete for a £5 million fund previously expected to support up to five local inquiries.

The announcement from Undersecretary of State for Home Affairs Jess Phillips caught local authorities off guard, with the Labour MP telling Parliament the funding would adopt a “flexible approach” allowing councils to bid for money to support various initiatives from full inquiries to victims panels and local audits.

“We shouldn’t have to bid for money,” said Theresa, whose son died by suicide at 28 after experiencing child sexual exploitation in Oldham. “Children have lost their lives because of the pain of what happened. It feels like they’re putting a price on our children.”

The mother, who has campaigned for a statutory inquiry since her son’s death, described the ongoing confusion as “traumatising” for survivors and their families.

Oldham Council confirmed the inquiry remains on track under chair Tom Crowther KC, who previously led the acclaimed Telford investigation. The council acknowledged it now expects to apply for funding rather than receiving automatic allocation, but maintained this change “does not impact Oldham’s local inquiry.”

The government defended its decision, with a Home Office spokesperson stating the flexible approach came “after listening to local authorities about what they need.” Opposition MPs have accused the department of “watering down” its original commitment, claims the Home Office dismissed as “patently false.”

Details of the bidding process will be announced at the end of April, Phillips told Parliament, as councils await clarity on how to access funds for investigations into historical abuse cases.

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