GB News understands that the local enquiry into the activities of grooming gangs in Oldham has been cancelled.

National Reporter Charlie Peters said: “GB News can now reveal that the Oldham inquiry announced in January is no longer going ahead. It’s been cancelled.

“It’ll now be a local investigation as part of this national inquiry. And the barrister Tom Crowther, who was appointed in January to do that investigation, is no longer involved.

“So, quite a significant update. And a lot of people in Oldham are already reacting with concern to that, because they’ve had to wait a year before this update.

“It might end up having more powers than it would have had before, because it’s part of a national inquiry, it’ll be statutory, will have all those investigative opportunities to gather evidence and to compel witnesses.

“But still, people in Oldham will be saying, ‘why has it taken 12 months for you to confirm that and six months since the national inquiry was announced?’

“Because they made a promise to those people in January, those survivors, those campaigners. It’s a long time to wait.”

The Home Secretary is expected to announce the name of the chair of the national enquiry later today.

Shabana Mahmood will also share details of expert panellists and a draft terms of reference.