Sir Keir Starmer slams the Tories for prioritizing social media over child safety
Oldham: So, Sir Keir Starmer is really going after the Tories lately. He’s calling them out for focusing more on getting likes on social media than on protecting kids. It all started when Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, pushed for a new inquiry into child grooming gangs.
Starmer thinks this is a pretty low move. He says it distracts from important legislation meant to keep children safe. He’s not holding back, saying it’s shocking that they’d even consider this tactic.
Things got heated after Home Office minister Jess Phillips turned down a request for a national inquiry. She’s been under fire from Elon Musk, who called her a “rape genocide apologist.” Starmer backed her up, saying Musk crossed a line with his comments.
Starmer told the Mirror that no MP should be voting against measures that protect children. He’s really frustrated that the Tories seem more interested in social media fame than actual child safety.
In response to Labour’s stance, Musk took a jab at Starmer, calling him “Starmtrooper” and accusing him of trying to cover up serious issues. It’s all getting pretty messy.
The Tories are pushing for a new inquiry into child sexual abuse, even though a major independent investigation wrapped up last year. They want to amend the Government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to include this inquiry, but Starmer warns that it could derail important legislation.
He’s urging Tory MPs to think twice before voting for this amendment, as it could kill the Bill aimed at improving child safety. The Government is focused on rolling out recommendations from the previous investigation instead of starting a new one.
Starmer is serious about getting justice for victims, but the Tories are set to propose their amendment soon. If it passes, it could halt progress on the Bill, which includes crucial measures for child protection.
There’s a lot at stake here, especially after the tragic case of Sara Sharif, a young girl who was murdered after being pulled from school. Critics are saying Starmer might be avoiding a national inquiry to dodge scrutiny over his past as director of public prosecutions.
But Starmer defends his record, highlighting that he was behind the first major prosecution of an Asian grooming gang. Musk, however, isn’t letting up, questioning why Starmer would block an inquiry if he’s not hiding anything.
In the midst of all this, shadow education secretary Laura Trott is calling for a more civil discussion about the inquiry. She believes there’s new information that needs to be explored, and it should be done without the name-calling.
Trott wants a cross-party approach to tackle these issues, emphasizing the need for policy debates that focus on helping victims. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary is moving forward with mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, which is a step in the right direction.
