The UK government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer flatly rejected the recommendation of a national inquiry into grooming gangs by the Conservative Party. The motion has caused political tumult in the House of Commons. The tied motion was rejected by Labour MPs, who complained that it will delay the operation of the children’s wellbeing and schools bill protecting children from being exploited, said the Press Association (PA).
The motion failed with a vote of 364 to 111. All Labour MPs rejected the motion. There were 101 Conservatives, five Reform UK MPs, two members from the DUP, Jim Allister from the Traditional Unionist Vote, Robin Swann from the United Progressive Party, and Independent Alex Easton supporting the motion. The bill will now move forward directly to be reviewed without additional formal votes.
Before the vote, heated discussions during Prime Minister’s Questions occurred. Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch expressed concerns that refusing to support the inquiry would perpetuate the fears of a “cover-up.” The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer responded saying victims were seeking action rather than delays and described the motion as a “wrecking amendment” holding up the progress of the bill.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduces measures like stricter home-schooling regulations and changes to private school oversight, aiming to enhance child safety.
Criticism and Controversial Statements
Government’s position is being condemned by the opposition parties. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip referred to the decision as “disgusting” and Shadow Equalities Minister Mims Davies suggested that the Liberal Democrats, who abstained from voting, had shirked their responsibility. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated there should be an inquiry into the “great evil” of child sexual abuse committed by grooming gangs. In the end, he offered to privately finance an independent inquiry if the government would not agree.
On the debate day, Reform MP Rupert Lowe caused scandal when describing the crimes as “mass rape of young white working-class girls by gangs of Pakistani rapists,” referring it to a “rotting stain on our nation.” This caught the ire of Labour MPs.
Labour MP Nadia Whittome was one of those who condemned the opposition for politicizing the suffering of the victims. Abuse, she noted, is race-, religion-, and class-neutral. She also dismissed the assertion that the crimes were connected with “alien cultures,” because the problems were not the exclusive preserve of any community. It has brought further discussions around balancing the imperative of child safety with political accountability in policymaking.
