During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs. She claimed that by refusing, he was risking accusations of a “cover-up.” Badenoch also accused Starmer of not wanting tough questions to be asked of “Labour politicians who may be complicit” in this issue. However, Starmer argued that several inquiries had already been conducted into abuse by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani heritage, and that a new probe would create more delays for the victims. He also noted that he would “call out” anyone who prevented victims of sexual abuse from coming forward.
The Conservatives have tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which calls for a national inquiry. If approved, the bill, which includes measures aimed at protecting children and tighter rules around home-schooling, as well as changes to academies, would be scuppered. Starmer criticised Conservative MPs for attempting to block this bill, claiming it was aimed at helping vulnerable children. Making her case during PMQs, Badenoch said “no one has joined the dots, no one has the total picture” and that a new inquiry could explore “if there was a racial and cultural motivation to some of these crimes”. She urged Starmer to “be a leader, not a lawyer,” a reference to his job before politics.
Starmer acknowledged that there were mixed views on whether there should be a fresh probe. He accused Badenoch of only taking an interest in the topic recently and failing to act when she was in government. The current row emerged after GB News reported that the government had refused Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who turned down the request, argued that locally-led inquiries were more effective at implementing change. However, speaking to Sky News, she said “nothing is off the table” and that she would listen to the victims if they called for further action.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is currently being debated by MPs, and they will vote on the Conservatives’ amendment in the evening. The bill would require all councils to hold a register of children who are not in school and 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. The bill has also been criticised for preventing academies from setting their own pay and conditions for staff. Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott has called it “educational vandalism.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
