A Tory bid to launch a brand new nationwide inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal has been voted down by MPs amid criticism of “political game playing”.
MPs rejected the modification to the Kids’s Wellbeing Invoice by 364 to 111.
Nonetheless, even had the Commons supported the measure, it would not have really compelled the federal government to open the specified inquiry, as a result of parliamentary process.
As a substitute, it could have killed the federal government’s laws, the goal of which is to reform issues like the youngsters’s care system and lift instructional requirements in faculties.
Tonight’s vote was largely symbolic – aimed toward placing strain on Labour following days of headlines after feedback by Elon Musk introduced grooming gangs again into the highlight.
The world’s richest man has hit out at Sir Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, after she rejected a brand new nationwide inquiry into baby sexual exploitation in Oldham, saying this ought to be executed at an area stage as a substitute.
The Tories additionally beforehand stated an Oldham inquiry ought to be executed domestically and in 2015 commissioned a seven-year nationwide inquiry into baby intercourse abuse, led by Prof Alexis Jay, which checked out grooming gangs.
Nonetheless, they did not implement any of its suggestions whereas in workplace – and Sir Keir has vowed to take action as a substitute of launching a contemporary investigation into the topic.
Jess Phillips unique:Victims can have inquiry if they need one
Chatting with Sophy Ridge on the Politics Hub forward of the vote, schooling minister Stephen Morgan condemned “political game playing”.
“What we’re seeing from the Conservatives is a wrecking amendment which would basically allow this bill not to go any further,” he stated.
“That’s political game playing and not what I think victims want. Victims want to see meaningful change.”
In addition to the Jay overview, various native inquiries have been additionally carried out, together with in Telford and Rotherham.
Talking earlier within the day at PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer accused Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch of “jumping on the bandwagon” after Mr Musk’s intervention and spreading “lies and misinformation”.
Referring to her time in authorities as youngsters’s and equalities minister, the prime minister stated: “I can’t recall her once raising this issue in the House, once calling for a national inquiry.”
He additionally stated having spoken to victims of grooming gangs this morning, “they were clear they want action now, not the delay of a further inquiry”.
Ms Badenoch has argued that the general public will begin to “worry about a cover-up” if the prime minister resists requires a nationwide inquiry, and stated nobody has but “joined up the dots” on grooming.
Women as younger as 11 have been groomed and raped throughout various cities in England – together with Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford – over a decade in the past in a nationwide scandal that was uncovered in 2013.
