Conservative MP Robbie Moore has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the grooming gangs scandal, calling for an investigation into the Labour leader’s time as Director of Public Prosecutions.
Speaking to GB News, Moore said Starmer “looked weak” and “nervous” during today’s press conference addressing the issue.
“What’s clear is he did not go far enough. He was in a prominent role to be able to deal with this issue, and he did not go far enough,” Moore said.
The Keighley MP insisted that Starmer “was not showing the strength of a Prime Minister that we should all be expecting.”
Moore argued that anyone involved in “covering up” or “sweeping this issue under the carpet” should face criminal prosecution, including an examination of Starmer’s tenure as chief prosecutor.
Starmer today hit back at what he called “lies and misinformation” being spread about grooming gangs, blaming the “far-right”.
The Labour leader said those spreading such claims “are not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves”.
Moore highlighted that only Labour MP Sarah Champion attended his debate on child sexual exploitation, criticising the broader Labour response.
He pointed out that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips had declined a local authority’s request for a national inquiry.
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The Conservative MP expressed particular concern about the current report’s limitations, noting it “mentioned Rotherham once” and failed to mention Bradford entirely.
“The British state has failed many of those families, many of those victims, many of those survivors, consistently for far too long,” Moore said.
Moore called for a “detailed, dedicated national inquiry” focusing on ethnicity data and gang-related grooming.
“We need that absolutely detailed, dedicated national inquiry that focuses on areas like the Bradford district,” he said.
In a direct attack on Starmer, Moore told GB News: “What’s clear is he was in a prominent role to be able to deal with this issue, and he did not go far enough. And even in his press conference today, he looked weak. He looked nervous.
“He was not being robust enough. He was not showing the strength of a Prime Minister that we should all be expecting. And that is incredibly frustrating. As far as I’m concerned, Keir Starmer’s time as chief prosecutor needs to be investigated as well.”
The Tory MP insisted more action was needed, particularly regarding prosecutions. “We have not gone far enough, and there needs to be convictions and criminal convictions that are associated with this,” Moore stated.
He emphasised that the issue “should not be a political issue” but rather focus on supporting survivors. “We can provide reassurance to those victims and survivors so they do not feel disenfranchised by the state,” he added.
