AN MP has expressed his anger that councillors who were in office during the child abuse scandal in Rotherham are still in place.

Alex Stafford, Conservative MP for Rother Valley, spoke out following the broadcast of a GB News documentary on Saturday which found that child grooming gangs continue to operate across the country.

He told GB News: “Everyone thinks it’s gone away yet there are numerous Labour councillors in Rotherham who were told about it but did nothing.

“And yet they’re still councillors sitting on Rotherham Council. It almost seems like once immediate attention had gone away, they just continued as we were before.

In a discussion with Tom Harwood, he said: ‘The way children, girls, are being groomed has definitely changed, in Rotherham there was an issue around taxis.

“That seems to be sorted out, but we’re hearing that’s now moved on to different parts, whether it’s online, whether it’s to petrol stations, above fast food outlets but what’s more worrying is the culture

“The councillors who presided over this absolutely horrific situation where 1,500 girls in Rotherham were raped, yet some of them are still in position.

“To me and to many people it is deeply concerning. The people who presided over the failure of the council, who did not acknowledge what was happening are still in place and still in positions of power or authority.

“That really sticks in the craw of many survivors. And actually, if you don’t change the people involved, how can we ever have proper change to protect our girls going forward?”

Asked about what changes are needed, he said: “The main thing is making sure it is reported. And then when it is reported to the police and all the relevant authorities, including the council, it is about ensuring that social service and other aspects take these complaints seriously.

“One of the big problems we had previously is when the victims came forward to say that they were being victims, the police, the council did not actually believe them. In several situations they handed them back to the perpetrators, and claimed they were their boyfriends as ridiculous things.

“We need to have a complete culture shift, so that people who come forward and report grooming, are taken completely seriously, believed and a thorough and full investigation launched.

“We should definitely have a complete serious look at the historic crimes to make sure that people who did commit those crimes are put behind bars – they should be in jail.”

Mr Stafford paid tribute to the GB News investigation, saying: “It’s great that GB news is actually shining a light on this abhorrent situation where sitting councillors are still serving, despite attending the best briefings, and being warning the nature of the Child Sexual Exploitation (that was taking place).”