Former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry has criticised Labour’s stance on public inquiries, questioning why the party called for an investigation into Boris Johnson’s Downing Street wallpaper but opposes one into grooming gangs.
Speaking to GB News, Berry condemned what he called Labour’s inconsistent approach to demanding public investigations.
He highlighted that the scale of grooming gangs has been found to be far more extensive than initially thought, affecting 50 towns rather than the six originally identified.
The former chairman drew attention to Labour’s 2020 demand for an inquiry into Boris Johnson’s Downing Street wallpaper choices.
Jake Berry hit out at Labour for dismissing a public inquiry into grooming gangs
PA / GB News
Berry told GB News: “They love public inquiries, but apparently not in this case. And you ask yourself, why?
“As recently as 2020, a shadow cabinet minister called for a full inquiry into what wallpaper the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson had put up in his flat in Number 10 Downing Street.”
He pointed out that Rachel Reeves, whom he referred to as “Rachel from accounts”, had also called for a full public inquiry into interest rates on car loans in 2017.
He suggested Labour’s reluctance stemmed from Keir Starmer’s time as Director of Public Prosecutions, claiming Starmer “has a tremendous case of amnesia again from his time as public prosecutor.”
Berry fumed: “He claims all the time I was Director of Public Prosecution, I’m tough. I’m tough on criminals.
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“But whenever one of these serious cases comes forward, apparently it’s nothing to do with him.”
He recalled confrontations in the House of Commons where Starmer had challenged Boris Johnson over COVID-19, declaring “the buck stops with you.”
“The buck stops with you, Prime Minister, as leader of the DPP and as Prime Minister. Get on and do it,” Berry said.
The former Conservative chairman also referenced the Jimmy Savile case, pointing out that Starmer had “formally apologised on behalf of his department as Director of Public Prosecutions”.
Berry told GB News that Starmer ‘can’t have it both ways’
GB News
Berry concluded: “Keir Starmer has a tremendous case of amnesia again from his time as public prosecutor.
“He doesn’t really know why he wasn’t directly involved in this, just like apparently he wasn’t directly involved in the Jimmy Savile case.”
He added: “On the Jimmy Savile point, he formally apologised on behalf of his department as Director of Public Prosecutions. You can’t have it both ways.
“Oldham Council has come to the government and asked for this public inquiry. Why is the government refusing?”
