The UK government insisted it does not plan to hold another national inquiry into predominantly Asian child abuse grooming gangs, but left the door ajar for a U-turn if victims’ groups call for one.
Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, the subject of ferocious social media attacks over the matter in recent days from US-based billionaire Elon Musk, said “nothing is off the table”. Ms Phillips last week ruled out a fresh national inquiry after local authorities in Oldham asked for one.
However, she appeared to row back on this on Wednesday in an interview with Sky News, when she suggested the government might have a rethink if victims’ groups wanted an inquiry.
The Muslim grooming gangs issue dominated prime minister’s questions (PMQs) at noon, while the spectre of incoming US government official Mr Musk and his litany of social media attacks over the matter also lingered heavily over the debate.
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Afterwards, a spokesman for 10 Downing Street said prime minister Keir Starmer’s position was “the same” as that of his safeguarding minister, despite his repeated insistence during PMQs that a fresh national inquiry into Asian grooming gangs would delay action to help victims until 2030 or 2031.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch told the House of Commons that “people will start to worry about a cover up” over the Labour government’s reluctance to order a new inquiry. A previous seven-year inquiry led by academic Alexis Jay reported in 2022.
Ms Jay this week suggested a new inquiry would not do any good, and the government would be better off focusing on implementing the 20 recommendations in her 2022 report.
Ms Badenoch and her party had laid down a so-called “wrecking amendment” on Wednesday calling for a new national inquiry on a child protection bill that faced a vote in the House. Labour’s huge majority in parliament ensured it was doomed to failure, but rejecting the Tory amendment put Labour MPs in the politically-difficult position of having to vote against an inquiry.
Mr Starmer had earlier urged Tory MPs to defy their party leader by not backing her amendment, which had essentially called for MPs not to back the bill in its entirety. He said the bill contained essential reforms to protect students from abusers while attending school, and it was “shocking” that Tories would not back it.
He said “reasonable people could agree or disagree” about the need for a fresh inquiry, but action was what was needed and the government would implement the Jay recommendations.
A Number 10 spokesman, however, was unable to say after PMQs what specific actions the government would be prevented from taking should it also hold a fresh inquiry.
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