An inquiry into the government interventions at Tower Hamlets LBC and Rotherham MBC has been launched.

The communities and local government will investigate how effective the government takeovers were following allegations of corruption in Tower Hamlets and the child sexual exploitation scandal in Rotherham.

It will examine how power was handed back to the local authorities and what lessons can be identified for future interventions.

Chair of the committee, Clive Betts, said: ‘Seizing control of a local authority's powers is an extremely serious step for any government to take.

‘We will look very carefully to see if this has been done effectively in Tower Hamlets and Rotherham, and explore the efforts being made to return democratic control to the two communities.'

The committee will question commissioners and councillors at both councils, and has also invited written submissions.