Rotherham's Labour MPs sue Ukip politicians for 'sickening' allegations over child sex abuse scandal

The Jay report found 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham over the course of a decade

Rotherham, where abuse victims were ferried around in minicabs (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty)

A group of Labour MPs has announced that it is to sue two Ukip politicians over “sickening” allegations regarding the child abuse scandal in Rotherham.

Sarah Champion, John Healy and Kevin Barron have issued a joint statement saying they are taking legal action against Jane Collins, the Ukip MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, as well as the Rotherham Ukip group leader Councillor Caven Vines.

It follows a report by Professor Alexis Jay into more than a decade of abuse in Rotherham that saw 1,400 children targeted.

Ms Collins made reference to the report during a speech at the Ukip party conference in Doncaster last year – comments which were reportedly reiterated by Mr Vines in a Sky News interview on 5 January.

Ms Champion, Mr Healey and Mr Barron said: “It is sickening that Ukip could use such an important issue for party-political point-scoring, and we will challenge these defamatory accusations through every means available to prove they are untrue and to stop Ukip exploiting the terrible abuse for their own political gain.”

Ms Champion was not reported to be involved in the libel action against Mr Vines.

A spokesperson for Ukip said the party was unable to comment on an ongoing legal case.