In a recent parliamentary exchange that has captured public interest, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader and Minister, accused the government of failing to fulfill its commitment to establish five local inquiries into grooming gangs. This issue has been a topic of ongoing concern, with the Conservative leader emphasizing that the government’s promise to fund these inquiries is yet to be realized. Badenoch pointed to Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to specifically allocate £5 million to support five locally-driven investigations, however, thus far, only one inquiry has been initiated in Oldham.
During an intense session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Badenoch asserted that Starmer was deliberately “dragging his heels” on initiating these inquiries, suggesting that he was attempting to protect Labour-run councils from scrutiny regarding their handling of sexual abuse cases. In response, Sir Keir Starmer defended Labour’s efforts, maintaining that their focus involved greater investments aimed at delivering justice to victims of grooming gangs compared to the approaches taken by the Conservatives during their lengthy tenure of 14 years in power.
Every week, there is growing pressure on government ministers to disclose which areas are conducting inquiries into grooming gangs along with a nationwide review being spearheaded by Baroness Louise Casey. This situation follows initial comments by barrister Tom Crowther, who has been pivotal in developing these inquiry frameworks, indicating that progress on local inquiries had been stagnant since they were announced in January. Crowther, who previously led the inquiry into child sexual abuse in Telford, expressed his confusion to the Home Affairs Committee regarding whether he was still needed for the task at hand.
On Monday, these discussions sparked further debate when Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips revealed her expectation that more than five local inquiries would soon be underway. Phillips emphasized Labour’s commitment to ensure accountability at the local level to facilitate real change within communities.
In a particularly charged moment during the PMQs, Badenoch sought to contextualize the inquiries within the framework of the upcoming local elections, highlighting that voters would have a crucial choice to make between “chaos and cover-ups under Labour councils or better services under the Conservatives.” As tension rose, Badenoch challenged Starmer for an update on the local inquiries, stating pointedly that he was unable to name a single location where an inquiry was progressing and emphasized that existing local authorities appeared reluctant to investigate themselves.
Furthermore, Badenoch advocated for the need for a national inquiry, arguing that local investigations lack the power to compel witnesses or collect evidence under oath, which is critical for bringing these issues to light effectively. Sir Keir Starmer countered these claims by reminding Badenoch of his past leadership role as Director of Public Prosecutions, during which he prosecuted the first case of grooming gangs, and implemented significant changes in prosecution approaches. He stated, “I was the prosecutor who brought the first case on this issue. The government praised those efforts.”
This disagreement reflects the ongoing political struggle about the handling of grooming gang inquiries, which has been a painful issue for communities across the UK. For over a decade, numerous high-profile cases have emerged involving predominantly Pakistani men convicted of sexual abuse, targeting mainly white girls.
In 2022, a comprehensive national inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay investigated these alarming patterns of abuse, reinforcing the urgent need for structured responses. The Conservatives have been vocally advocating for a second inquiry into grooming gangs, particularly since the topic gained resurgence in public discourse largely due to remarks made by tech billionaire Elon Musk early this year.
The demand for an extensive investigation into these distressing issues is supported by various opposition members, including Labour figures like Rotherham MP Sarah Champion and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. As this discourse continues to unfold, the scrutiny of local governments and their handling of grooming gang investigations remains a pivotal discussion point as the political landscape evolves, especially with impending local elections.
