Kemi Badenoch has criticised the government for failing to honour its commitment to establish five local inquiries into grooming gangs, following a previous pledge.
The Conservative leader stated that Sir Keir Starmer had promised £5 million to fund five independent local investigations but, to date, only one has commenced, in Oldham.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Badenoch accused Sir Keir of “dragging his heels” on inquiries, hinting at an attempt to protect Labour-run councils from scrutiny.
Sir Keir maintained that Labour is investing more in “delivering truth and justice” for grooming gang victims than the Conservatives had achieved during their “14 long years” in government.
Ministers are under increasing pressure to clarify which regions are conducting grooming gang inquiries, in addition to the Oldham review and a three-month national audit overseen by Baroness Louise Casey.
Earlier this month, barrister Tom Crowther, who is contributing to the development of these schemes, suggested the progress of local inquiries has stalled since their announcement in January.
Crowther, who previously chaired the inquiry into child sexual abuse in Telford, Shropshire, told the Commons Home Affairs Committee in April that he had asked an official whether his involvement was still required.
This issue resurfaced in the Commons on Monday, when Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips indicated there could be more than five local inquiries in due course.
Phillips explained Labour’s focus is on “ensuring a process of accountability that delivers real change locally”.
In a tense PMQs exchange, Badenoch attempted to link the grooming gang inquiries to upcoming local elections across England this Thursday, which include council and mayoral votes.
She argued that voters face a “choice between chaos and cover-ups under Labour councils or improved services under the Conservatives”.
Badenoch repeatedly pressed Sir Keir for a progress update on the local inquiries. When she did not receive a direct answer, she asserted that he “cannot name a single location because nothing is happening”.
She raised suspicions that the Prime Minister was “deliberately delaying” action on local grooming gang investigations to avoid exposing alleged Labour cover-ups, adding that some local authorities might be reluctant to scrutinise their own conduct.
Badenoch contended that only a national inquiry could compel witnesses to appear and give evidence under oath—powers she said local reviews lack.
Sir Keir accused Badenoch of “remaining silent” on the issue while in government, and pointed out that he had “oversaw the first grooming gang prosecution” as Director of Public Prosecutions.
He told the Commons: “I was the prosecutor who brought the first case.”
“Following that, I changed the entire approach to prosecutions, which the government later recognised as the right course of action, leading to further successful cases.”
Starmer said Labour was “implementing recommendations” from the 2022 national inquiry into child sexual abuse and “facilitating further local inquiries”.
Britain has witnessed a series of widely reported cases over the past decade in which groups of men, mainly of Pakistani heritage, were convicted of sexually abusing and raping predominantly white girls.
In 2022, Professor Alexis Jay delivered conclusions from a seven-year inquiry into child sexual abuse, covering incidents in institutions and by grooming gangs.
Conservative calls for a second national inquiry were renewed earlier this year after renewed public interest, partly sparked by comments from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The initiative drew cross-party support, including from Labour’s Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
In the House of Lords, Labour’s Baroness Hazarika apologised on behalf of the Muslim community for the “appalling, wicked acts” perpetrated by grooming gangs.
She noted that many in the Muslim community were as horrified as everyone else, stating: “This is not who we are,” and highlighted that Muslim women were also victimised by these crimes.
The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to implement all 20 recommendations made by the Jay inquiry as a priority.
On Monday, party spokesperson Lisa Smart said MPs “owe it to victims” not just to voice support, but to deliver justice and hold perpetrators accountable.
Reform UK has also endorsed calls for a national inquiry, previously offering to fund one independently.
Party leader Nigel Farage has accused both Labour and the Conservatives of “failing to achieve justice for thousands of victims over many years”.
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer criticised Badenoch for allegedly “using this issue to advance her own political agenda”.
Denyer argued: “Leaders serious about tackling sexual abuse and exploitation of girls would prioritise victims and support decisive action to combat misogyny.”
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