Sam Francis, a political correspondent, reported on a clash between leaders regarding the handling of grooming gang inquiries. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of not fulfilling its promise to establish five local investigations into grooming gangs despite the commitment made. Badenoch specifically criticized Sir Keir Starmer for only funding one inquiry in Oldham, suggesting that Labour was avoiding inquiries to protect its councils from scandal.
The issue of grooming gang inquiries has gained attention, with demands for transparency on which areas are conducting investigations aside from Oldham’s review. Tom Crowther, a barrister involved in developing the schemes, indicated that progress on local inquiries had stalled since their announcement in January. The pressure for more than five local inquiries was emphasized by Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, highlighting the importance of local accountability to drive tangible change.
During a tense exchange in Prime Minister’s Questions, Badenoch linked grooming gang inquiries to the upcoming local elections in England. She criticized Sir Keir for not providing updates on the inquiries, insinuating that the lack of progress was due to avoiding uncovering potential Labour cover-ups. Badenoch emphasized the need for a national inquiry, pointing out the limitations of local investigations in compelling witnesses to testify truthfully.
The discussion around grooming gang inquiries stems from a history of high-profile cases involving mainly Pakistani men abusing predominantly white girls in the UK. Calls for a second national inquiry were backed by opposition MPs, including Labour figures like Sarah Champion and Andy Burnham. The debate has also extended to recommendations from the 2022 national inquiry into child sexual abuse, with different parties advocating for justice and accountability for victims of these heinous crimes
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
