Starmer urges Badenoch to drop inquiry call, fearing delays in child safety legislation
London: So, there was this heated exchange in Parliament between Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch. Starmer really pushed Badenoch to drop her demand for a national inquiry into grooming gangs. He argued that it could slow down important laws meant to protect kids.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, he pointed out that another inquiry might just delay real action against child sexual abuse. He reminded everyone that recommendations from a previous investigation, which wrapped up in 2022, still haven’t been acted on.
The Tories want to add an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill for a new inquiry. But Starmer warned that if they go ahead with this, it could block the progress of the legislation that aims to keep children safe.
Badenoch, on the other hand, said not supporting the inquiry would make people think there’s a cover-up happening. Starmer shot back, saying he met with victims who just want action, not more delays.
He mentioned that there have already been several inquiries, both national and local, and it’s up for debate whether another one is really needed. He urged Badenoch to withdraw her amendment, emphasizing the importance of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill for vulnerable kids.
In the Commons, things got pretty intense. Starmer criticized Badenoch for jumping on the grooming gang issue now, saying she never raised it when she was in office. Badenoch countered by reminding him that he had called for multiple inquiries in the past. She warned that resisting this one could raise suspicions of a cover-up.
Things got even more complicated when Elon Musk jumped into the fray, calling Starmer “Starmtrooper” and accusing him of trying to hide terrible things. It’s wild how social media can stir the pot in politics!
Badenoch’s amendment is likely to face a tough time in the Commons, given Labour’s majority. The government is focused on rolling out recommendations from the previous inquiry instead of starting a new one.
If the amendment passes, it could halt the progress of the Bill, which includes crucial measures for child safeguarding. This is especially important considering tragic cases like that of Sara Sharif, who was pulled from school just before her murder.
Critics are saying Starmer might be avoiding a national inquiry because it could shine a light on his past as director of public prosecutions. But he defended his record, highlighting his role in prosecuting grooming gangs.
Prof. Alexis Jay, who led the previous inquiry, believes it’s time to move forward rather than dive into another lengthy investigation. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary announced plans to implement mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse.
It’s clear that child victims need to be heard and protected. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is seen as a real opportunity for change, and everyone’s hoping it doesn’t slip away.
