Opposition MSs have called for the Welsh First Minister to back an inquiry into grooming gangs, in a tense exchange in the Senedd. Darren Millar, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, repeatedly asked Eluned Morgan if she will support a national or Wales-wide inquiry.
The debate was heated, with Baroness Morgan accused of dodging the question, while Mr Millar was told to “tone it down” by the Llywydd – the Senedd’s presiding officer. Speaking during First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, he said: “We know that people up and down Wales are talking about this issue.
“They need assurances that both the Welsh and the UK governments, along with the police and social services, are doing all that they can to prevent young girls in Wales from becoming victims of grooming gangs. “They want to know that justice will be served against the perpetrators of these crimes, but they can only have those assurances if we know the full extent of the problems that we have here in Wales and the actions which are being taken by everybody to address them.”.
Baroness Morgan refused to say whether she supports a new inquiry and was accused of not answering the question by Mr Millar. She said: “I think it is important when we’re discussing sensitive issues like this that we think first of the victims, and many have endured dreadful abuse.
“It’s really important we stand with them and by them when we seek justice. “It’s really disappointing that this issue has been politicised to a point where people working for humanitarian organisations and children in school feel threatened, and I really hope we can tone down the rhetoric on this issue.”.
