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Starmer and Badenoch clash over call for grooming inquiry Tory bid to force grooming gangs inquiry voted down
(32 minutes later)
PMQs: Sir Keir Starmer accuses Kemi Badenoch of "jumping on bandwagon" about calls for inquiryPMQs: Sir Keir Starmer accuses Kemi Badenoch of "jumping on bandwagon" about calls for inquiry
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer he risks fuelling accusations of "a cover up" by refusing to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs. An attempt by the Conservatives to have the government set up a national inquiry into grooming gangs has been voted down by 364 votes to 111 votes, a margin of 253.
She also accused the PM of not wanting questions asked "of Labour politicians who may be complicit". The amendment was attached to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would have been killed had the vote passed.
Sir Keir argued that several inquires had already been held into abuse carried out by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani heritage, and that a new probe would only delay the action the victims wanted. Earlier in the day, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued the government risks fuelling accusations of "a cover up" by refusing an inquiry.
And he said he would "call out" anyone who prevented victims of sexual abuse from coming forward. But Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer argued that several inquiries had already been held into abuse carried out by gangs of men and a new probe would only delay the action the victims wanted.
The Conservatives have tabled an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which calls for a national inquiry. The amendment was largely symbolic, as the size Labour's majority meant it was never likely to pass.
In the unlikely event the amendment is approved the bill, which includes measures aimed at protecting children and tougher rules around home-schooling, as well as changes to academies, would be scuppered. It would also have killed a major piece of government legislation, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes measures aimed at protecting children and tougher rules around home-schooling, as well as changes to academies.
Sir Keir said it was "shocking" Conservative MPs would try to block a bill aimed at helping vulnerable children by voting for the Tory amendment and accused Badenoch of "weak leadership".Sir Keir said it was "shocking" Conservative MPs would try to block a bill aimed at helping vulnerable children by voting for the Tory amendment and accused Badenoch of "weak leadership".
He said "reasonable people could agree or disagree" on whether there should be a fresh probe and acknowledged that there were mixed views among victims and survivors.He said "reasonable people could agree or disagree" on whether there should be a fresh probe and acknowledged that there were mixed views among victims and survivors.
Sir Keir said he would "call out" anyone who prevented victims of sexual abuse from coming forward.
However, he accused Badenoch of only recently taking an interest in the subject and said she had failed to take action when she was in government.However, he accused Badenoch of only recently taking an interest in the subject and said she had failed to take action when she was in government.
"I can't recall her once raising this issue in the House, once calling for a national inquiry," he said."I can't recall her once raising this issue in the House, once calling for a national inquiry," he said.
Making her argument for a fresh inquiry during Prime Minister's Questions, Badenoch said "no one has joined the dots, no one has the total picture".Making her argument for a fresh inquiry during Prime Minister's Questions, Badenoch said "no one has joined the dots, no one has the total picture".
She noted that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which lasted for seven years and concluded in 2022, had not had a specific focus on grooming gangs.She noted that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which lasted for seven years and concluded in 2022, had not had a specific focus on grooming gangs.
"We don't need to repeat the work that has already been done. Let's look at new areas.""We don't need to repeat the work that has already been done. Let's look at new areas."
She said a new inquiry could explore "if there was a racial and cultural motivation to some of these crimes".She said a new inquiry could explore "if there was a racial and cultural motivation to some of these crimes".
"Be a leader, not a lawyer," she urged the prime minister - a reference to his job before coming into politics."Be a leader, not a lawyer," she urged the prime minister - a reference to his job before coming into politics.
She also accused the PM of not wanting questions asked "of Labour politicians who may be complicit".
The current row over the subject was triggered after GB News reported that the government had refused Oldham Council's request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation.The current row over the subject was triggered after GB News reported that the government had refused Oldham Council's request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation.
Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, has made numerous incendiary interventions on the subject including accusing Sir Keir of being "complicit in the rape of Britain".Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, has made numerous incendiary interventions on the subject including accusing Sir Keir of being "complicit in the rape of Britain".
Following Prime Minister's Questions, he posted a message on social media urging MPs to back an inquiry adding "hundreds of thousands of little girls in Britain who were, and still are, being systematically, horrifically gang-raped deserve some justice in this world".Following Prime Minister's Questions, he posted a message on social media urging MPs to back an inquiry adding "hundreds of thousands of little girls in Britain who were, and still are, being systematically, horrifically gang-raped deserve some justice in this world".
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who turned down the request, has argued that in her experience locally-led inquiries, such as the one held in Telford, were more effective at implementing change.Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who turned down the request, has argued that in her experience locally-led inquiries, such as the one held in Telford, were more effective at implementing change.
However, speaking to Sky News, external she said "nothing is off the table" adding: "If the victims come forward to me in this victims panel and they say, 'actually, we think there needs to be a national inquiry into this', I'll listen to them."However, speaking to Sky News, external she said "nothing is off the table" adding: "If the victims come forward to me in this victims panel and they say, 'actually, we think there needs to be a national inquiry into this', I'll listen to them."
Following Prime Minister's Question, a Downing Street spokesman said that "significant" engagement with victims groups had shown "they do not want to see a national inquiry, they want action taken to deliver justice".Following Prime Minister's Question, a Downing Street spokesman said that "significant" engagement with victims groups had shown "they do not want to see a national inquiry, they want action taken to deliver justice".
"But as the prime minister said on Monday we will always remain open-minded. We will always listen to local authorities who want to take forward inquiries, or indeed further allegations that need to be followed up.""But as the prime minister said on Monday we will always remain open-minded. We will always listen to local authorities who want to take forward inquiries, or indeed further allegations that need to be followed up."
MPs are currently debating the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill and will vote on the Conservatives' amendment in the evening. Voting details have not been published yet, but the Liberal Democrats said they would abstain on the amendment.
The Liberal Democrats have said they will abstain on the amendment. The party's education spokesperson Munira Wilson said it would "kill crucial child protection measures" and accused the Conservatives of "using the victims of this scandal as a political football". The party's education spokesperson Munira Wilson said it would "kill crucial child protection measures" and accused the Conservatives of "using the victims of this scandal as a political football".
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said his party would back the amendment but said the Conservatives' interest in the subject was "insincere".Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said his party would back the amendment but said the Conservatives' interest in the subject was "insincere".
He added that if the government would not call an inquiry, Reform would raise money to appoint "independent arbiters" to examine the subject.He added that if the government would not call an inquiry, Reform would raise money to appoint "independent arbiters" to examine the subject.
The bill would require all councils to hold a register of children who are not in school.The bill would require all councils to hold a register of children who are not in school.
It would also prevent parents from having having an automatic right to take their children out of school for home education if the young person is subject to a child protection investigation or suspected of being at risk of significant harm. It would also prevent parents from having an automatic right to take their children out of school for home education if the young person is subject to a child protection investigation or suspected of being at risk of significant harm.
Conservatives have been critical of sections of the bill which states that all teachers should be part of the same core pay and conditions framework whether they work in a local authority-run school or an academy.Conservatives have been critical of sections of the bill which states that all teachers should be part of the same core pay and conditions framework whether they work in a local authority-run school or an academy.
Academies - which are independent of local authorities – currently have the freedom to set their own pay and conditions for staff, and some academies exceed the national pay scales for teachers.Academies - which are independent of local authorities – currently have the freedom to set their own pay and conditions for staff, and some academies exceed the national pay scales for teachers.
Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott called the move "educational vandalism" arguing that academies would lose freedoms that can help to recruit teachers and improve pupil outcomes in challenging areas.Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott called the move "educational vandalism" arguing that academies would lose freedoms that can help to recruit teachers and improve pupil outcomes in challenging areas.