Lord Michael Gove has told GB News that Whitehall officials attempted to "block journalists" from publishing investigations into grooming gangs in 2011.

Speaking to Charlie Peters in an exclusive sit down interview, Gove confirmed Dominic Cummings's claims that he rejected advice from Department for Education officials, who suggested preventing journalists from publishing reports of abuse in Rotherham.

Gove revealed: "We contacted Rotherham Council and said we do want to intervene in this case, but on behalf of The Times, because it is absolutely vital that the truth be told."

The Labour Government announced their U-turn on holding a national grooming gangs inquiry following a review by Baroness Louise Casey and widespread criticism across the political spectrum.

Lord Michael Gove sat down with Charlie Peters for an exclusive GB News interview

Despite branding previous calls for an inquiry as "jumping on the far-right bandwagon," the Labour leader now admits it is "the right thing to do".

Confirming the account made by Dominic Cummings of the attempt, Gove told GB News: "Dominic's account is broadly absolutely correct. So Andrew Norfolk, the very brave and sadly deceased reporter at The Times who was responsible more than anyone for initially uncovering the the grooming gang scandal, had been investigating Rotherham.

"It was the case that he wanted to publish details that related to one particularly tragic case. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council at the time didn't want the full details revealed."

Revealing how he was "approached" by the council, he added: "They approached the Government and the Department for Education, where I was Secretary of State at the time, asked us to join them in a legal case in order to prevent the times publishing."

Gove told GB News that Department of Education officials attempted to 'block' journalists from reporting on it in 2011

"I looked at the material alongside Dominic and some other people in the department, and we contacted Rotherham Council and we said, yes, we will intervene in this case, but on behalf of The Times, because it's absolutely vital that the truth be told."

Asked by Charlie whether there were officials in the Department of Education that were against him intervening on behalf of The Times, Gove confirmed: "Yes, it was absolutely the case that there were those who thought that it was appropriate for us not to intervene."

Discussing the documents on the grooming gangs case in question, Gove said the officials argued that sharing details of the particular case may "adversely affect" other potential victims of the gangs.

Gove explained: "The documents in question revealed some some details about one particular victim, and it was argued by the council and by some officials who were sympathetic to their case, that revealing everything about the case might mean that other potential victims, other family members, might be adversely affected.

Gove told GB News that it was 'absolutely vital' that the 'truth be told'

"There was also an argument that the council itself was making improvements, and as a result of these improvements being made, that would be imperilled, potentially if there were adverse publicity."