Inquiry Chair Criticizes Tory Government's 'Awful' Response

Professor Alexis Jay, chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), criticized the Conservative government's response to her report as 'awful' and 'inconsequential', noting the lack of commitment to its 20 recommendations. Suella Braverman, the then-home secretary, issued a response that Jay described as disappointing and anger-inducing for the victims and survivors. Jay expressed concern over the political weaponization of child abuse issues, particularly in relation to grooming gangs, and highlighted the need to enact the inquiry's recommendations. Despite voicing her concerns to the government and writing to The Times, Jay encountered resistance and a lack of follow-up action. Home secretary Yvette Cooper has since pledged to implement the recommendations, setting a timetable for action. The criticism comes amid broader political controversies, including accusations by Nigel Farage of a government cover-up related to a separate violent incident.