Starmer open to U-turn on grooming gangs inquiry, Downing Street says
Share:
After safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said a new national probe into the scandal was still on the table, the prime minister’s official spokesman said the government would grant one if victims’ groups called for it. Sir Keir Starmer has opened the door to a u-turn on his refusal to hold an inquiry into grooming gangs, Downing Street has confirmed.
![[Home Office minister Jess Phillips has said Elon Musk knows ‘absolutely nothing’ about child sexual abuse (Jordan Pettitt/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/08/00/cca63a39151b12648aadb239e07b2e96Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2Mzc4MjI1-2.78321683.jpg)
After safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said a new national probe into the scandal was still on the table, the prime minister’s official spokesman said the government would grant one if victims’ groups called for it. “Jess Phillips has been engaging extensively with victims, and what we have heard loud and clear from victims is that they do not want to see more inquiries,” he said.
![[Professor Alexis Jay has said ‘the time has passed’ for another lengthy examination of grooming gangs (Colin Whyman/Independent Inquiry)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/07/18/aa6964e0c7aa4c819aad296c84ac461fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2MzYwNDI3-2.78635342.jpg)
But, after repeated questioning, Sir Keir’s spokesman said that if victims’ groups indicated in the future they wanted a new national probe into grooming gangs, one would be granted. The admission came after a tense PMQs in which Sir Keir and Kemi Badenoch traded blows over the issue of child grooming gangs, with the PM sticking to the line that victims want action as opposed to another inquiry over fears about a delay.
Ms Badenoch described child grooming as "one of the worst scandals in British history", accusing the PM of denying an inquiry to protect Labour politicians “who may be complicit”. In a damning admission, Ms Badenoch’s spokesman later confirmed she has not yet met any victims of the grooming gangs scandal and that she currently has no plans to do so. Her spokesman said her calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs are based on what she has read in the media and other reports.
