Oldham uprising & public inquiry politics – with Raja Miah and Isabel Hardman

Last night, MPs voted against a new national inquiry into grooming gangs. The vote followed weeks of pressure on Labour after Elon Musk brought grooming gangs back into the spotlight, after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips rejected a new national inquiry.

If we did have a national inquiry, what would it achieve? We’ve had many in recent years; Iraq, Grenfell Covid, the Post Office. Do they achieve meaningful justice for victims, or are they a drawn-out way to avoid knotty legislative change? Does parliament have the mechanisms to enact the recommendations – have politicians ever done this in the past, and is there an appetite to do so in the future? Deputy broadcast editor Natasha Feroze discusses with Spectator assistant editor Isabel Hardman, and Raja Miah, anti-grooming gang campaigner and Oldham commentator.

//CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
00:24 - The grooming gang scandal
00:46 - When public inquiries do matter
01:15 - The campaign for a national inquiry
04:54 - Failures of local inquiries
07:43 - Problems with the inquiry system
11:20 - Rebuilding trust in communities
16:14 - Future of public inquiries

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[mycatspethooman]

Raja is a superstar, he's campaigned tirelessly at great cost to his own safety, he's a true gentleman

[Aijan]

My deep respect to Spectator for giving a voice to Raja Mia. It was a brave decision. You didn’t disappoint. Thank you.

[KimThomas-vpvm]

Raja Miah is a good man, a whistleblower.

[brandyhaywood]

This man is absolutely speaking the truth and needs our full support! As does Maggie Oliver. As does Sammy Woodhouse. As does Tommy Robinson. As does Elon Musk!!!

[JimmoStClair]

I'm so happy Raja is getting the airtime he deserves on this subject.

[dewiowen]

A good man standing up for his hometown that he loves. He is trying to fight against barbaric behavior of the grooming gangs to create a civilized society.

[hilary.teanti]

Watch the interview that Raja Miah did on Tousi TV - truly eye opening . . . what the man had to go thru and endure and the *s that put him thru it !!
I truly salute Raja - a very brave man given his background.

[Ann-qfvk]

I've never heard of Raja. Glad I now have. Thank you for your work Raja

[Daisyduck]

Raja is an amazing man . Should be on all MSM and front page of every newspaper

[HarryFlashmanVC]

Raja is incredibly courageous. They tried to jail him to silence him

[aidy]

This guy is on the money followed him for a while. He needs his voice amplified

[davidowen]

Keep going Raja Miah MBE the people of Oldham and now the world are listening

[Nailbunny]

Please have Raja back on very soon to tell his story. The corruption in the Labour party that he has faced is terrifying.

[chriswhite-io]

Brother Raja go my guy, tell the truth ❤️🇬🇧

[searchingfortruth]

Excellent commentary from Raja, a credit to his cause and people.

[sebastianb]

Outstanding comments from Rajah Miah. Thank goodness we have people like him in local government.

[mgamcevilly]

Thank you Spectator for giving this man a voice. He is Key to this horrendous and heinous situation

[Aijan]

Raja knows much more about the grooming gangs but Spectator didn’t ask any real questions. Listen to Raja at Tousi TV. He drops some bombs on Labour in relation to this scandal and much more.

[sbsbme]

Honest, selfless, & informative Raja Miah. deserves full credit, respect & recognition . He explains it for what it is and doubt anyone will stop him. Thanks for giving him your time Spectator

[sqrd]

Who investigates themselves? Labour hiding behind the far right remark when people from different racial groups are invested in finding out the truth, it's shameful. Children must be protected regardless of their ethnicity. These victims were obviously targeted.The worst thing is the fathers of these children made to feel very helpless because of politics. The psychological and emotional harm to victims and their families is immeasurable. No wonder there are so many PD3s as the punishment is light or non existent. It looks very bad.