MP JOHN MANN called ­yesterday for Rotherham councillors found to have failed victims of child sex abuse to be kicked out of the Labour Party.

Around 1,400 children were systematically sexually abused by a gang of men in the South Yorkshire town between 1997 and 2013, when the scandal was uncovered.

Councillors and officials ignored clear warning signs of abuse and pleas for help from victims were ignored.

Mr Mann said that the latest report on the issue had clearly shown that many councillors simply refused to accept what had happened to the children of Rotherham under their watch.

“The Labour Party now needs to act to ensure that those councillors and former councillors are asked to resign or are expelled so that these people can never stand again as Labour Party candidates,” he said.

The council will be wound up and its role temporarily taken over by five government-appointed commissioners, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said on Wednesday.

One commissioner’s role will be devoted entirely to the sex abuse scandal.

The decision came in response to an inspection report by government official Louise Casey which painted a picture of a council in complete denial about the issue and a culture of bullying, “misplaced political correctness” and silencing whistle-blowers.

peterlazenby@peoples-press.com