SIR Keir Starmer will today order his Labor MPs to vote against calls for a new national inquiry into the Asian gang-rape scandal – insisting it is past time to ask more questions.
But the Prime Minister was accused of moral cowardice by the Conservatives after ministers rejected Oldham Labor council’s request for a new inquiry.
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Keir Starmer will order his Labor MPs to vote against calls for a new national inquiry into the groom group scandal Credit: PA
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Kemi Badenoch will call for a special inquiry into failings and cover-ups in around 60 northern towns in relation to gang-rapesCredit: EPA
Meanwhile, the government’s approval rating has fallen to a record low, showing Labor is more unpopular than when Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to resign in 2022 after a series of scandals.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch plans to table an amendment in parliament today to the Government’s child welfare and schools bill.
It will call for a specific investigation into the omission and cover-up of rape gangs of Pakistani origin in around 60 northern cities.
Sir Keir is also facing pressure from Reform UK, as leader Nigel Farage yesterday threatened to fund his own private inquiry.
No 10 insisted that – if chosen by the president and successful – the Tory proposal would effectively torpedo Labour’s flagship schools bill.
As a result, the Prime Minister is prepared to use his overwhelming majority, with a three-line whip ordering Labor MPs to vote against.
Sir Keir insisted the 2022 independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, which took seven years to complete, was thorough enough to identify any failings and take action.
His spokesman said yesterday: “It is past time for more inquiry and consultation, particularly for victims and survivors who clearly want action.”
However, campaigners insist that the previous investigation – led by Professor Alexis Jay – only scratched the surface of organized abuse by men of mostly Pakistani origin.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “To vote against a national inquiry into this scandal is complete moral cowardice on the part of Keir Starmer and his Labor Party. The victims of these heinous child rape gangs deserve honesty and they deserve the truth.”
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Mr Farage added: “I honestly believe that through the police, through social services, through the last days of the Labor government, through the whole of the last Conservative government, there was a concerted effort to play this down for fear of what he could do, for fear that he would be called a racist.
“The irony is that the attacks themselves were racist. This was anti-white female racism.”
Tory shadow education minister Neil O’Brien insisted: “Victims of gangs who rape children deserve justice. Many have never had their voices heard.
“Labour MPs now have their first chance to vote to give answers and justice to the victims and pass an amendment that will make it clear that the will of parliament is for a national inquiry.”
“But if they don’t, the Conservatives will not back down and will continue to change the bill at every opportunity. I hope Labor MPs start listening to their constituents and vote to do the right thing.”
Mr Farage has promised to launch a private inquiry into the scandal if Sir Keir refuses to act.
He told LBC: “If they won’t do it, we at Reform will do it. I shall have no difficulty in raising the money to do so. We will appoint independent former judges and experts.”
Although he admitted that he would not have the legal authority to compel witnesses, Mr. Farage said: “I think this would garner so much public support that anyone who was asked to turn up and didn’t turn up would look terrible. I think there is a huge need now for us to know the full unvarnished truth, however horrible it may be.
“I can raise money for it today, not from Elon Musk. I can raise the money for it today, and we can do it.
“And I mean it, I mean it and I think the Government will know it when I say something.”
One of the lawyers in the Jay inquiry suggested reopening that inquiry to focus on the issue of ethnicity in the groom groups.
American billionaire Mr Musk, the world’s richest man, has brought the scandal back into the spotlight with a series of tweets and attacks on Labour.
A few days of insanity is nothing compared to decades spent in police stations with girls bloody from the beatings they took on a group of suitors
Jess Phillips
Although he caused outrage, he is credited with getting ministers to act against child abuse.
Meanwhile, Labor Defense Minister Jess Phillips, who has been called out by Mr Musk for blocking a new investigation, accused him of putting her at risk.
She said: “A few days of insanity is nothing compared to decades of sitting in police stations with girls bleeding from the beatings they took on a group of girls.
“So I’m going to put on my big girl pants and just pull them up.”
Downing Street confirmed yesterday that people in regulated sectors who work with children, such as teachers, nurses, scout leaders and church members, face jail for failing to report child abuse.
Any individual who intentionally hinders someone from reporting abuse also faces criminal prosecution.
However, other professions where staff are aware of child abuse in the workplace have no such duty.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman could not say whether this would prompt Jimmy Savile’s BBC colleagues to report his crimes.
A YouGov poll shows Labour’s approval rating has fallen to -47, down from -42 when Mr Johnson resigned as Prime Minister.
A Labor spokesman said: “It is appalling that the Conservatives are trying to block this government’s plans to protect our country’s most at-risk children from harm.
“On Wednesday, Conservative MPs have the choice to support our measures to protect children from grooming, exploitation and abuse, rather than playing politics with the safety of vulnerable children.”
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