The Conservative Party has set out plans for a judge led national inquiry into grooming gangs, pledging a formal statutory process to replace the government investigation that stalled. The move comes as survivors, campaigners and several Conservative figures call for decisive action following frustration about delays and the collapse of earlier inquiry efforts. At the centre of the plan is a two year timeline and strong investigatory powers including the ability to compel testimony and access documents held by councils, police forces, religious institutions and other organisations linked to allegations of group based sexual exploitation and abuse. The proposal aims to address widespread concerns about failures in previous reviews and deliver clarity for both victims and the public. The backdrop to the new proposal includes a major audit on group based child sexual exploitation and abuse led by Baroness Casey. That audit concluded that data collection across multiple agencies had been inconsistent, particularly relating to the ethnicity and nationality of perpetrators, and that earlier investigations had repeatedly missed critical information. The audit prompted a commitment to launch a full statutory inquiry, promising a comprehensive examination of systemic failings. The original process became mired in difficulties when members of the victims and survivors liaison panel resigned and every proposed candidate to chair the inquiry withdrew. The final shortlisted chair stepped back citing a breakdown of trust and concerns about political interference. The inquiry was left without leadership and its future in doubt only weeks after being announced. In response the Conservatives have presented their own detailed blueprint for a judge led process. The plan has drawn support from several victims groups which argue that only an independent judiciary managed inquiry can rebuild confidence in the investigation and ensure impartiality. The proposal has also found favour among members of the public seeking greater accountability from local councils and police forces. A major component of the inquiry would be a forensic examination of historic failings across child protection services, social services and policing. This includes the handling of reports, the recording of data and the decisions made in cases where prosecutions did not proceed. The scope also extends to community and religious organisations where claims of negligence or complicity have been raised, with the inquiry empowered to seek internal records and testimony. The two year deadline may still be insufficient to examine the breadth of cases expected to be included. Others warn that statutory inquiries often struggle to enforce accountability on individuals even when systemic failings are identified. Some also caution that bureaucratic obstacles or legal challenges could hinder access to long protected documentation. Despite these concerns Conservative leaders maintain that a judge led inquiry offers the most reliable route to a full investigation. They argue that it removes ministerial interference, strengthens transparency and produces a public record capable of informing lasting reforms. Supporters believe this approach is essential to achieving justice for survivors and restoring confidence in safeguarding institutions. The government has not confirmed whether it will formally adopt the detailed Conservative proposal or present an alternative structure. However the clarity and specificity of the newly announced framework mark a much more concrete stance on grooming gang investigations than previously offered. The immediate question now is who will lead the inquiry, how broadly its remit will extend and whether devolved nations will be invited to participate or continue under separate mechanisms. As political debate intensifies, survivors and advocacy organisations continue to call for certainty and urgency. For many the issue is no longer whether an inquiry should take place but whether it will be comprehensive, independent and effective. The eventual test of the inquiry’s value will not lie in promises but in the evidence gathered, the accountability established and the reforms enacted once it concludes....