The Conservative Party will seek to amend the Children’s Wellbeing Bill this week to mandate a full national inquiry into grooming gangs, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has announced.
In a post on X, Badenoch wrote: “I was serious when I said its time to get justice for victims.
“So on Wednesday, Conservatives will put forward an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to require a full national inquiry into the rape gangs grooming scandal.”
She urged cross-party support, adding: “If the amendment is selected, I hope MPs from all parties will vote to support the inquiry, so we can do right by the victims and end the culture of cover-ups.”
Following the post, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper addressed the Commons on child sexual exploitation and abuse, emphasising the Government’s commitment to protecting children.
“All of us have a responsibility to protect our children. Perpetrators must be punished and pursued. Victims and survivors must be protected and supported,” Cooper told MPs.
I was serious when I said it’s time to get justice for victims. So on Wednesday, Conservatives will put forward an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to require a full national inquiry into the rape gangs grooming scandal.
If the amendment is selected, I hope MPs from…
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) January 6, 2025
She acknowledged historical failings in addressing these crimes, stating: “These crimes have not been taken seriously for too long and far too many children have been failed.”
Cooper outlined the Government’s response, saying: “That is why this Government is determined to act – strengthening the law, taking forward recommendations from the independent inquiries, supporting stronger police action and protection for victims.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp faced shouts of “shame” from Labour MPs as he defended calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs and said “it is not far-right to stand up for victims of mass rape.”
He warned that “smearing people who raised those issues is exactly how this ended up getting covered up in the first place”.
Philp outlined the proposed powers of the national inquiry, calling for it to have statutory authority to compel witnesses and gather evidence under oath.
He challenged the Government directly on the inquiry, stating: “Will the Home Secretary commission that national statutory public inquiry, which can compel witnesses to attend, that can requisition evidence and where it can take evidence under oath?”
The Shadow Home Secretary confirmed the Conservatives’ commitment to forcing a vote, saying: “If the Government will not order that statutory national public inquiry, we will table an amendment to the Children Wellbeing Bill later this week to put the matter to a vote”.
He urged cross-party support for “that full statutory public inquiry so we can get to the truth”.
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