Kemi Badenoch to ramp up calls for national inquiry over grooming scandal

Kemi Badenoch is to ramp up demands for a national inquiry into the child grooming scandal to end the “culture of cover ups” in British institutions.

The Tory leader will deliver a face to face challenge to to launch a public probe into the sexual abuse of young girls in towns across the country.

Both the and Reform UK have called for a national inquiry after the issue was reignited by interventions on social media from .

The scandal is expected to be the focus of furious debate when the two leaders face each other over the despatch during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.

Ms Badenoch is tabling a Commons amendment designed to force a vote on an inquiry which she says means MPs “can do right by the victims”.

Reform UK leader said his party would be prepared to set up an unofficial inquiry into grooming gangs if the Government did not act within “a few weeks”.

Pressure is mounting on Sir Keir to act after the tech-billionaire waded into the argument last week. But No 10 denied being forced into action over the scandal by Mr Musk.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman insisted action to implement some of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s recommendations had not come this week as a result of the latest uproar.

Sir Keir is scrambling to steady the ship after brutal clashes with Mr Musk and accusations that he had “smeared” those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs as helping the “far-Right”.

The PM fueled the backlash after saying that politicians who want an overarching probe into the rape of thousands of white girls by gangs of predominantly Pakistani-origin men were “jumping on the bandwagon” and “amplifying what the far-Right are saying”.

Shadow Justice Secretary branded Sir Keir’s remarks “absolutely disgusting” and an “outrageous smear” as he backed calls for a national inquiry.

“What I have said is that millions of people have come into our country in recent times, but some of them are coming from countries and cultures that have backwards attitudes to women,” he told told Times Radio.

“And that’s backed up by the evidence that we have seen from the Jay report and the testimonies of the victims.

“Pakistani men are over-represented in those who are involved in the grooming gangs, and the evidence we have seen is that some of those have specifically preyed upon white, working-class girls because they viewed them as worthless.”

But Professor Alexis Jay, who led a seven-year inquiry into child sexual abuse in Britain, said victims “clearly want action” and that the time has passed for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs.

She told Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think that the time has passed for more inquiries. We’ve had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions and especially for those victims and survivors who’ve had the courage to come forward, and they clearly want action.

“We have set out what action is required and people should just get on with it. Locally and nationally.”

The slew of messages on X from tech billionaire Mr Musk on the issue attacking Sir Keir and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips came after the Government declined to commission a Home Office inquiry into sexual exploitation in Oldham, insisting it should be locally-led.

Professor Jay declined to answer when asked whether she felt US billionaire Mr Musk knew what was going on in Oldham, but added: “I have heard very little in the last few days about the appalling and lifelong effects that child sexual abuse can have on people.”

The victims minister was, however, unable to provide a timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, saying the Government was working “quickly”.