Kemi Badenoch has shown real leadership (Image: PA Wire)
Kemi Badenoch has shown real leadership by calling for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, addressing one of Britain’s most harrowing social issues. Her approach stands in stark contrast to Labour’s refusal to confront this crisis, even though nearly every council area implicated in these abuses was Labour-run.
Badenoch’s stance is a testament to her commitment to justice, accountability, and safeguarding vulnerable women and girls. This issue also provides a striking comparison to , whose framing of grooming gangs — while correct for raising awareness — lacks the constructive potential of Badenoch’s approach.
The grooming gangs scandal involves the systematic exploitation of vulnerable young girls, often facilitated by institutional failures within social services, law enforcement, and local governance.
Whether due to fears of political backlash or institutional inertia, the inaction of authorities has left a rail of shattered lives and eroded public trust. Badenoch’s call for a national inquiry is an essential step toward uncovering the full extent of these failures, ensuring accountability, and restoring faith in public institutions.
Badenoch’s leadership on grooming gangs is consistent with her track record of standing up for wronged women and children. Her involvement in exposing the Tavistock clinic’s failings is a prime example.
She was vocal in highlighting how the clinic, prioritizing ideology over evidence, subjected vulnerable children to rushed and experimental treatments. Her advocacy played a key role in
calling for systemic reforms to protect young people from further harm.
This willingness to confront institutional failures, regardless of the political cost, is what makes Badenoch’s approach to grooming gangs particularly significant. She understands that systemic issues require systemic solutions, and she is unafraid to pursue them.
While both Badenoch and Farage have drawn attention to the issue of grooming gangs, their approaches differ significantly in impact and credibility. Farage’s rhetoric, often intertwined with his broader anti-immigration agenda, has frequently focused on the ethnic backgrounds of the perpetrators. While this angle resonates with his base, it risks diverting attention from the systemic institutional failures that allowed these crimes to continue unchecked.
Badenoch, in contrast, frames the issue within the context of justice and systemic reform. Her measured approach avoids stigmatizing entire communities, instead focusing on holding individuals and institutions accountable. This nuanced perspective is more likely to foster constructive dialogue and achieve lasting change.
Moreover, Badenoch’s position as a senior government official gives her the authority to drive meaningful policy reforms. Her call for a national inquiry has the potential to result in tangible changes, such as improved safeguarding measures, better training for law enforcement, and a more robust framework for investigating and prosecuting such crimes. Farage, as an activist outside mainstream governance, lacks the capacity to translate his rhetoric into actionable policy.
That’s why Badenoch’s call for a national inquiry is about more than addressing past wrongs — it’s about restoring public trust in Britain’s institutions. Her leadership offers a path
toward rebuilding confidence in the justice system, particularly among communities that feel abandoned. Unlike Farage’s polarizing rhetoric, which often exacerbates divisions, Badenoch’s
balanced approach can appeal to a broader audience, fostering unity in the pursuit of justice.
Furthermore, her focus on systemic reform rather than sensationalism underscores her commitment to long-term solutions. By addressing institutional failings, Badenoch seeks to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. This distinguishes her as a leader not merely reacting to crises but actively working to prevent them. Kemi Badenoch has emerged as a beacon of leadership and accountability in calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs. Her commitment to justice, her history of advocacy for vulnerable women, and her measured approach stand in stark contrast to Labour’s inaction and Farage’s polarizing rhetoric. In tackling one of Britain’s most distressing social issues, Badenoch is not only advocating for justice for the victims but also striving to restore faith in the institutions meant to protect them. This is leadership that Britain sorely needs—and deserves.
Dr Azeem Ibrahim OBE is an Author and Political Analyst