Fury as Labour MPs vote down Kemi Badenoch’s bid for grooming gangs probe | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour MPs have blocked Kemi Badenoch’s bid to pressure an impartial inquiry into youngster sexual exploitation by Muslim grooming gangs.

Sir Keir Starmer whipped his MPs to vote down the Conservative modification to the kid security and training Bill, which might have blocked the laws on the grounds it doesn’t decide to a brand new probe.

MPs rejected Mrs Badenoch’s try by 364 to 111, a majority of 253.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated: “It is disgusting that Keir Starmer has used his supermajority in Parliament to block a national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal.

“Labour MPs have put their celebration forward of attending to the reality and turned a blind eye to justice for the victims. Labour MPs should clarify to the British folks why they’re in opposition to studying the reality behind the torture and rape of numerous susceptible ladies.

“We will not let them forget this act of cowardice.”

Earlier throughout PMQs, the Prime Minister insisted motion is required “on what we already know” relatively than a complete investigation into failings up to now.

But Mrs Badenoch, the Tory chief, warned that refusing to launch a probe would lead folks to “worry about a cover-up”.

She demanded that Sir Keir start acting like a “leader, not a lawyer”.

She added: “We need to focus on what this is really about: this is not about the PM’s work at the Crown Prosecution Service … it’s not about you, it’s about the victims.”

Mrs Badenoch said past inquiries “couldn’t get evidence, they couldn’t summon witnesses and not a single person in a position of authority has been held to account”.

In a fiery Commons clash, she said a new inquiry must “be a part of up” previous investigations, as well as have a specific focus on whether there was a racial or cultural motivation behind the mass cover-up of rapes.

She argued that white girls had been seen as “easy meat” by gangs.

“We know that folks have been scared to inform the reality as a result of they thought they’d be known as racist. If we wish to cease this from ever occurring once more, we can’t be afraid,” she added.

Labour MPs reacted with outrage when Mrs Badenoch identified that in opposing her movement, the Prime Minister was forcing MPs with grooming gangs in their very own constituencies to dam a probe.

She blasted: “Let us have the truth. The PM cannot face the scale of the scandal. He doesn’t want questions asked of Labour politicians who may be complicit.

“Later today he will tell labour MPs, including in Telford, Rochdale, Bristol, Derby, Aylesbury, Oldham, Bradford, Peterborough, Coventry, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Ramsgate – tell all of these people to vote against a national inquiry into the gangs which have systematically gang-raped children in their constituencies.”

Elon Musk, whose social media posts have been on the coronary heart of the talk, later tweeted reward for the Tory chief, posting “well said, Kemi Badenoch” on X.

Nigel Farage stated the nation deserves a full and open nationwide inquiry, and that if the Government doesn’t relent Reform UK would fund one itself.

He warned Labour MPs: “If the Government won’t do this – and I do believe there is now overwhelming support on all sides of the political spectrum for this, and Parliament should not be in denial about this – if it doesn’t, then we will raise the money at Reform UK and appoint independent arbiters, because we need the truth to be out there.”

The Reform UK chief requested Labour MPs: “I beg those on the other side of the House: don’t you believe that your constituents need to know the truth about this great evil that has happened in our country?”

Sir Keir had demanded that the Tories withdraw their modification on the grounds it will strike down their whole Bill and undermine youngster security.

The PM insisted he may act in opposition to youngster rapists with out one other inquiry, suggesting such a transfer may delay justice till after 2030.

But Sir Keir hinted he could possibly be ready to grant an inquiry into grooming gangs sooner or later.

Less than every week after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips rejected a name by Oldham Council to carry an impartial probe, the Prime Minister’s spokesman left the door open to a brand new investigation supplied victims needed one.

Sir Keir’s spokesman stated that the Prime Minister stays “open-minded”, although continued to insist a brand new inquiry would “not be the best way to deliver [victims] justice”.

He stated: “Our position is that victims’ groups have told us that they do not want to see a national inquiry, that we therefore share that view that that would not be the best way to deliver them justice”.

Ms Phillips additionally stated “nothing is off the table” and she or he could possibly be keen to U-turn if her victims’ panel really helpful a brand new investigation.

Labour later accused the Conservatives of “stooping to a new low” after they found Mrs Badenoch had used her inquiry modification as a possibility to fundraise for the celebration.

A Labour spokesman claimed this confirmed “breathtaking disrespect to brave victims who are being used as a political football by the Conservatives”.