The first PMQs of 2025 saw a heated exchange on the grooming gangs scandal
London: So, the first Prime Minister’s Questions of 2025 kicked off with a bang. Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch were at it over the grooming gangs scandal. It was quite the showdown!
Starmer accused Badenoch of just hopping on the bandwagon. He urged her to drop her push for a national inquiry into the horrific sexual assaults on kids happening in various towns across Britain.
Meanwhile, some Conservative MPs are trying to add an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. They want a statutory inquiry into these grooming gangs, but it could really slow down the bill’s progress.
This whole thing got a fresh wave of attention after Elon Musk started posting about it on social media over Christmas. It’s wild how one person can spark so much discussion!
Badenoch mentioned that a new inquiry could explore if there’s any racial or cultural motivation behind these crimes. She’s all for shorter inquiries, especially if they’re looking into new areas that haven’t been examined yet.
She pointed out that a national inquiry could help figure out why certain groups of girls were targeted, referencing comments made by Jack Straw about how some were seen as “easy meat.”
Starmer, on the other hand, warned that more inquiries could just delay real action against child sexual abuse. He reminded everyone that recommendations from a lengthy investigation in 2022 still haven’t been acted on.
He’s been vocal about calling out anyone who hasn’t handled these cases properly, regardless of their political affiliation. He’s got a history of doing that, and he’s not shy about it!
Reflecting on his time as director of public prosecutions, he shared how he pushed for mass prosecutions but insisted on reviewing past cases to understand what went wrong.
Badenoch didn’t hold back, telling him to be a leader instead of a lawyer. She highlighted how fear of being labeled racist has kept people from speaking the truth about these issues.
She argued that the Labour Party’s stance on Islamophobia has made it tough for honest discussions about grooming gangs, which is unfair to innocent British Muslims.
Starmer responded, saying he’s committed to addressing anything that stops victims from coming forward. He acknowledged that while some want another inquiry, it could delay justice until 2031.
He emphasized that the focus should be on taking action now, as we already know the major flaws in the system. It’s a tough situation, and both sides are really passionate about it.
