Andy Burnham backs ‘limited’ national child sex abuse inquiry

The mayor told BBC Radio Manchester people were not required to give evidence to the review team, adding it was “appalling” that in the Rochdale review some police officers refused to take part.

“There’s a difference at a local level and a statutory public inquiry. There will always be limitations with what you can do with a local review. The review team could not compel someone to speak to them.”

“That is something I couldn’t do at my level.”

One abuse survivor from Oldham said the review into her town had led to “more recommendations, filed away for no-one to follow”, adding some victims had not been heard.

Mr Burnham said he accepts the Oldham review only looked at “specific allegations”, and he supports Oldham’s Council’s plans to hold a local inquiry “to give more victims a voice”.

The vote on Wednesday was attached to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which includes measures to protect children around home schooling.

That legislation would have been killed if the vote had passed.