We heard just over an hour ago that another candidate to chair the grooming gangs inquiry has withdrawn from the process.

In a letter shared to social media, Jim Gamble writes that the "reaction to the appointment process has been defined by the vested interests of some, as well as political opportunism and point-scoring, rather than by the cross-party consensus required to address such a serious national issue." You can see more from his letter here.

It follows four abuse survivors quitting the inquiring and accusing officials of watering it down. The inquiry - and its fall out - was a flash-point in Parliament today, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch focusing on the issue during this week's Prime Minister's Questions.

Here's what else we've heard today:

• Badenoch challenged Prime Minister Keir Starmer at PMQs on behalf of victims, who are questioning what the point is in speaking up "if we're just going to be called liars?"
• Starmer stressed that he wants survivors to be at the heart of the inquiry, adding that the "door will always be open" if they want to return
• Badenoch also called for Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips to be sacked - but Starmer defended her, citing her experience
• MPs on both sides of the house agrees that survivors have been left with a "lack of trust in systems"

We'll be ending our live coverage for now. Thanks for joining us.

In January, the government asked Baroness Louise Casey to carry out a national audit of the data and evidence of grooming gangs in England and Wales.

Following the audit's publication, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs in June, following months of criticism for not launching one sooner.

The review found:

• There was a lack of reliable data and flaws in the data collection, which means it is not possible to assess the scale of group-based child sexual abuse
• The ethnicity of the perpetrators is "shied away from" and is is still not being recorded in two-thirds of child sex abuses cases
• The police data that has been obtained in three areas - Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire - shows "disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds" are among suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation

It recommends:

• Tightening the law in England and Wales so adults who have sex with a child under 16 are always charged with rape
• Implementing both a national police operation to review cases of child exploitation in addition to a national inquiry
• Closing a taxi licensing loophole which has been identified as a way children can be at risk of sexual exploitation
• More exploration of why it appears perpetrators of Asian and Pakistani ethnicity are disproportionately represented in some areas

You can read more here about the audit and its findings.

Jim Gamble, who earlier stepped down as a candidate to chair the inquiry, has shared a letter to the home secretary on social media that details his decision to withdraw.

In a post on social media, Gamble says he is sharing the letter to "prevent further misinformation and unhelpful speculation".

In the letter, he writes: "The decision is reinforced by the highly charged and toxic environment that has surrounded and influenced the appointment process and the impact this has had on those closest to me."

Gamble adds that "regrettably, the reaction to the appointment process has been defined by the vested interests of some, as well as political opportunism and point-scoring, rather than by the cross-party consensus required to address such a serious national issue".

He finishes by saying victims and survivors "deserve better than to be used as leverage for short-term gain by anyone".

We've more voices to bring you now from the people at the centre of the grooming gangs scandal - the survivors.

"Jessica" - not her real name - is one of the four people we know has quit a panel assisting the inquiry. She says she decided to withdraw yesterday "after seeing the direction the inquiry was taking".

She describes her disappointment by what she sees as the inquiry taking a "broader focus", adding that the issue of grooming gangs "deserves to stand alone and be addressed with the seriousness it warrants".

A chairperson is yet to be selected for the eventual inquiry, but Jessica expresses her concerns that "it felt like history repeating itself" when she learnt two candidates had connections with "the very authorities that failed us".

"Carly" - again, not her real name - explains that she wants to remain engaged in the process as "the most effective way to drive meaningful change is from within".

"I remain hopeful that the government has taken seriously the concerns raised by fellow survivors who have stepped away," she says.

• As a reminder: Keir Starmer earlier insisted the inquiry is not being diluted, and told the House of Commons he has drafted in Baroness Louise Casey to help.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Both Jim Gamble and Annie Hudson had faced criticism from some survivors about their career backgrounds.

Hudson was a social worker and Gamble is a former police officer.

The government blames intensity around the process for the pair pulling out.

It's understood ministers are exploring a range of other candidates.

A Home Office spokesperson says: "We are disappointed that candidates to chair that inquiry have withdrawn. This is an extremely sensitive topic, and we have to take the time to appoint the best person suitable for the role.

"The home secretary has been clear: there will be no hiding place for those who abused the most vulnerable in our society."

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Another candidate to chair the grooming gangs inquiry has pulled out of the process.

Jim Gamble was one of two people named in reports as a potential option to chair the inquiry.

The other - Annie Hudson - withdrew on Tuesday.

More on this soon.

Kate Whannel
Reporting from the House of Commons

Labour benches were full a short time ago when Angela Rayner made a statement to the House following her resignation from government last month. She resigned as deputy prime minister and housing secretary after failing to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.

There were big cheers when the former deputy PM got to her feet.

Sitting next to her was Jim McMahon. He had been a minister in her department until he was sacked in the reshuffle that followed Rayner’s exit.

At the end of her speech, several MPs on the Labour side gave Rayner a supportive pat on the shoulder as they passed by.

Watching BBC Two's Politics Live following PMQs, Labour and Tory MPs agree that abuse survivors may be left with a "lack of trust in systems and institutions" given what they have been through.

But a main point of discussion is who should chair the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Gareth Davies, Conservative MP and shadow Treasury minister, says a "very specific" inquiry is needed - one that "enables a judge to compel evidence and witnesses".

But during PMQs, the prime minister said Baroness Casey advised against appointing a judge when she published her review.

James Murray, Labour MP and chief secretary to the Treasury, responds that both Starmer and Home Office ministers have been "absolutely clear" that the inquiry will not "shy away from anything". He adds that this "may well mean there are some difficult and uncomfortable conclusions".

• As a reminder, a fourth woman has quit the survivors' panel this week amid fears the inquiry could be watered down.

This post contains distressing details

Following the news that four abuse survivors have resigned from assisting the grooming gangs national inquiry, a fifth woman tells the BBC she intends to remain on the panel.

Samantha Walker-Roberts, from Oldham, who wants the scope of the inquiry to include victims of other types of sexual abuse, so they are not "silenced," has criticised those who have quit.

She was the victim of a grooming gang when she was 12 - but she was also raped and abused by a man who groomed her online, and as a younger child she was raped and abused by older men who she met through friends.

"This is a one-of-a-kind type of inquiry where survivors are in control and it's wrong that certain survivors get special treatment to be part of this," she tells the BBC - adding that she believes the inquiry's scope "needs to be widened otherwise we're going be silenced".

• Read more from Samantha in our separate news story

• Tory leader Kemi Badenoch began by focusing on the testimony of an abuse survivor, Fiona, who’s stepped down from the inquiry’s panel. She quoted Fiona by asking PM Keir Starmer: "What’s the point of victims speaking up if we are just going to be called liars?"
• Starmer insisted the inquiry isn’t being diluted and that it will not shy away from cultural or religious issues - he added that he has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to help with the inquiry
• But, continuing to push on the issue, Badenoch quoted more survivors as saying they believe the government created a "toxic environment" and lost their trust - specifically naming Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips - before asking Starmer if he still has confidence in her
• Starmer defended Phillips, saying she has "more experience than anyone else in this House" in dealing with violence against women and girls
• But Badenoch fired back that Phillips "doesn't have more experience than the survivors"

• Away from grooming gangs, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey turned his attention to Brexit, saying it can't be a "smokescreen" for tax rises, before calling for a new EU-UK customs deal

As a reminder: Four abuse survivors this week resigned from the grooming gangs national inquiry panel. They said they were frustrated by how long it’s taken to appoint an impartial chairperson and accused the government of watering down its focus, but safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has denied a "cover-up" and said the government would appoint a chair who will "earn the trust" of survivors.

Kate Whannel
Reporting from the House of Commons

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is in the House of Commons today but, unusually, isn't sitting with other MPs - instead he's up in the gallery for MPs’ guests, next to long-time ally Arron Banks.

He has explained his decision on X:

“Every week at PMQs I am attacked by the PM and Labour MPs, but have no right of reply. I am just a mere spectator.

“So I have decided to spectate from the public gallery today instead.”

Kate Whannel
Reporting from the House of Commons

Nigel Farage gives Ed Davey a small wave when the Lib Dem leader namechecks him in his question about Brexit.

Image source, PA Media

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey used his questions to ask about the Crown Estate and the economy.

On the former, he says it needs to be scrutinised to protect the taxpayer's interests, to which Starmer agrees.

On the latter, Davey asks whether Labour can finally admit that Brexit was "a disaster"? He goes on to say Brexit can't be a "smokescreen" for tax rises and calls for a new EU-UK customs deal.

Starmer says this is not the way forward, though he recognises the damage wrought by Brexit.

With Keir Starmer now taking questions from cross-party MPs, here's a quick reminder of the key dates to do with the inquiry that was the focus of Kemi Badenoch's grilling:

• 16 January 2025: After pressure from the opposition and others, including Elon Musk, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announces five government-backed local inquiries, but resists a full national inquiry. She also announces a three-month national audit by Baroness Louise Casey to examine the demographics of gangs and victims
• 10 April: With the location of only one local inquiry announced - Oldham - Cooper insists the others will go ahead
• 2 June: Minister Jess Phillips apologises for a delay in publishing Baroness Casey's audit
• 14 June: Acting on advice from Baroness Casey and her audit, Keir Starmer says there will be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs
• 16 June: Baroness Casey's audit is published. It says the ethnicity of perpetrators is "shied away from" and not recorded in two-thirds of cases. But it says there is enough evidence from three areas to show "disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds amongst suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation"
• 20 October - 22 October: Four survivors quit the national inquiry, over concerns it is being diluted. The terms of the inquiry are still being worked out - the government says it is close to selecting someone to chair it. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the inquiry will "explicitly examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders"

Kate Whannel
Reporting from the House of Commons

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, whose department is leading on the grooming gang inquiry, is sitting near the prime minister and nodding intently to what he is saying.

With her final question, Badenoch continues to heap pressure on Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, saying she "doesn't have more experience than the survivors".

Badenoch says the victims and Tories are calling for Phillips to be sacked and pushes him on this point.

Starmer answers, pointing to the 14 years in office the Conservatives had and the fact they "barely mentioned" the grooming scandal.

"We have done more in the time we have been in office than they have done in 14 years," Starmer says.

Image source, PA Media

The Tory leader's continuing to question Starmer on the grooming gangs inquiry.

Badenoch says the victims of the scandal have waived their anonymity, and that they believe the Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips "has lied to them".

The Tory leader says Phillips has "lost the confidence of the victims" and then asks Starmer if he still has confidence in her.

Starmer says he respects and accepts different views from survivors. But he adds that Phillips has "more experience than anyone in this House" in dealing with violence against women and girls.

He also says she is the right person to lead this process.

Badenoch continues on the theme of grooming gangs and repeats her earlier question: what is the point in victims speaking up if they won't be believed?

She emphasises that 10 months have passed since the Conservatives called for a national inquiry, yet a chair has still not been selected. Badenoch says the survivors want a judge appointed to the position, and they deserve this.

Starmer replies that Baroness Casey advised against appointing a judge when she published her review.

He says the first reason for this was for speed. The second reason, he explains, is because it was determined a criminal investigation would happen at the same time, which would be delayed with a judge-led inquiry.

The PM then turns to mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse cases, telling Badenoch she "doesn't understand" how this works, and that the Tories should "hang their heads in shame" for voting against the protective measure.

Image source, PA Media

Next, Badenoch tells the Commons Starmer previously dismissed a national inquiry at the first PMQs of this year. And, she says, despite his words - survivors have quit the inquiry.

"[Labour] voted against the national inquiry three times, so the victims don't believe them...

"Now, one of the victims has quit - contrary to what the prime minister has just said and what the Home Secretary wrote this morning - they believe that the inquiry will downplay the racial and religious motivations behind their abuse. Aren't the victims right when they call it a cover up?"

Starmer says: "Let me reassure the victims and the House that the scope of the inquiry will not be diluted, and we don't shy away from cultural or religious issues."

He adds that he has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to help with the inquiry.

Getting it right with survivors at the heart is the priority, the PM says, adding that 1,200 historic closed cases have been reopened by his government.

• As a reminder: Four abuse survivors this week resigned from the grooming gangs national inquiry panel. They said they were frustrated by how long it’s taken to appoint an impartial chairperson and accused the government of watering down its focus, but safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has denied a "cover-up" and said the government would appoint a chair who will "earn the trust" of survivors.

Badenoch continues to press Starmer on the grooming gangs inquiry - saying she doubts Fiona (a survivor of abuse who this week quit the inquiry panel) will be satisfied with Starmer's last answer.

The Tory leader accuses the government of being engaged in "a briefing war against survivors", before quoting a second survivor, "Elizabeth" (not her real name), who Badenoch says was abused in Rotherham from the age of 14.

Badenoch quotes Elizabeth as saying the government has "created a toxic environment for survivors".

Starmer replies to say the survivors have experienced the "most awful ordeals" and that he wants to "press on" and ensure "survivors are at the heart of an inquiry".