British minister opens the possibility of a national investigation into grooming gangs

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UK ministers have acknowledged the possibility of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after days of opposing the idea despite pressure from figures including tech billionaires Elon Musk.

Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips told Sky News there was “nothing off the table” when it came to dealing with the scandal involving child sex abuse by gangs in several cities and towns in England.

Phillips said she would first listen to victims in a new council being established by the government. She added: “If victims come to me in the victims’ council and they say, ‘really, we think there needs to be a national inquiry into this’, then I will listen to them.” .

Her comments came ahead of a vote on an inquiry, after the issue was put on Parliament’s agenda by the Conservatives.

The opposition party introduced a proposal to amend the school law that was being debated on Wednesday afternoon. It was selected by the Speaker of the House to be put to a vote.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, described it as a “harmful amendment”, as it would block the passage of the bill if it passes, and called on the Conservatives to withdraw the bill. Labor MPs will be whipped for voting against the amendment.

Although the government’s substantial House of Commons majority means there is little chance of it passing, the vote will nevertheless pave the way for opposition parties to launch new ads on social media, attracting attention is on MPs who voted against holding a new national inquiry into the scandal.

A clip of Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch calling for an investigation during Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions was reposted by Musk on X with the words “well said”.

During the session, Starmer acknowledged in the House of Commons that there were legitimate views about the need for a new inquiry.

“This is a really serious problem and clearly we have to focus on the victims and survivors,” he told MPs. “There is no set view from victims and survivors on a further national inquiry, there are mixed views.”

Starmer warned that setting up a new inquiry could lead to further delays in tackling the abuse. “The final investigation took seven years,” he said. “That will take us to 2031.”

But Downing Street later did not rule out the possibility of the government adopting a national inquiry. “As the prime minister said in the House of Commons, reasonable people can agree or disagree on the merits of a national inquiry. . . The clear message we received from victims and survivors. .. they want to see action and that is what the government is focusing on.”

Starmer was “open” about the investigation, it added.

Phillips hit back after Musk criticized her for refusing a call from Oldham Council to hold a government inquiry into grooming gangs in the town. She believes it would be more appropriate if local authorities did this.

Ministers have repeatedly pointed to Professor Alexis Jay’s seven-year national inquiry which found 20 recommended, None of that was done by the previous Conservative government. This week, the Labor Party announced it was introducing a number of recommendations, including making grooming an aggravating factor in child sex abuse sentencing.

Badenoch on Wednesday said there needs to be a national inquiry into grooming gangs because “nobody has joined the dots yet, nobody has the final picture” and scandal is “almost certain is still going on.”

She challenged Starmer on whether “the full extent of the rape gang’s activities” was known and argued that his opposition to a new inquiry would raise “worries about a cover-up”. among voters.

Starmer hit back, accusing her of jumping in and saying “misinformation and mud-slinging” doesn’t help victims.