Reform UK has launched a scathing attack on Mayor Andy Burnham, alleging he ignored the grooming‑gang crisis in Makerfield and elsewhere while he held senior posts. The party says Burnham’s inaction allowed predators to prey on vulnerable girls for years, and promises to publish every related file within its first 100 days in office.

Burnham’s alleged inaction on the 2005 Operation Augusta shutdown

According to the Reform UK statement, Burnham was a Home Office minister when Greater Manchester Police closed Operation Augusta in 2005 – an investigation sparked by the death of 15‑year‑old Victoria Agoglia. The party claims the police blamed the victim’s “propensity to provide sexual favours” instead of pursuing the man who injected her with heroin, who received only a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence. Reform UK says Burnham failed to intervene, allowing the case to be quietly dismissed.

Makerfield’s “countless” victims and the missing DNA evidence

The party cites the testimony of survivor Amy, who reported her abuse to South Yorkshire Police in 2003, only to see the DNA evidence she provided vanish. reform UK argues that the disappearance of that evidence exemplifies the systemic cover‑up that persisted while Burnham was a Home Office minister. The claim is reinforced by a Bradford social worker’s recommendation that a 15‑year‑old rape victim live with her abuser, a detail highlighted in the source.

Mayor Burnham’s refusal to launch a national inquiry

When the full scale of the Greater Manchester scandal emerged, Reform UK says Burnham, then mayor, resisted calls for a proper national inquiry for years.. He eventually ordered a limited local review after a television documentary forced his hand, but the review was crippled when its two leaders resigned after being blocked from accessing critical information. The party notes that no council worker or police officer has faced criminal charges for their role.

Reform UK’s 100‑day plan to release every grooming‑gang file

Reform UK promises to “shatter the wall of institutional protection” by publishing every file, email,memo and record held by central government, local authorities, police forces and the Home Office covering the past 40 years. The party also pledges to increase funding for police and National Crime Agency taskforces by £300 million, bringing total resources to £400 million, to pursue remaining perpetrators and officials who ignored the abuse.

Unanswered questiions about Burnham’s role

Key gaps remain: Did Burnham ever receive briefings on the missing DNA evidence,and if so, why did he not act? How many senior officials were aware of Operation Augusta’s closure and chose not to intervene? Reform UK’s claims rely heavily on survivor testimony and internal reports, but independent verification of Burnham’s direct involvement is still lacking.

As the party prepares for the upcoming election, it will likely lean on these allegations to differentiate itself from Labour and the Conservatives. Whether the promised record release will materialise depends on the party’s ability to secure the necessary legislative authority.