Conservatives force a vote on national inquiry into child rape gangs

On Wednesday 8th January 2025, the Conservatives forced a vote in Parliament on holding an inquiry into the child rape gangs scandal.  

The Conservatives put forward a Reasoned Amendment to Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to give MPs the opportunity to do the right thing and vote in support of a full national inquiry.

The amendment “calls upon the Government to develop new legislative proposals for children’s wellbeing including establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focused on grooming gangs.”

The Conservatives took this action because we strongly believe that the victims of this awful and national scandal deserve justice and deserve the truth above anything else.

This amendment is also necessary in the face of Labour’s continued opposition to holding a full national inquiry.

Sir Keir Starmer has tried to smear calls for justice as “jumping on the bandwagon” of the “far-right” in an attempt to find political cover for his failure to back a public inquiry.

And Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also failed to back calls for a public inquiry in Parliament on Monday evening, despite being pushed for one by Chris Philp MP, the Shadow Home Secretary.

The amendment represented a clear test for the moral courage of Labour’s MPs – including the many that represent constituencies that have seen these horrific crimes perpetrated – on whether they will do the right thing and back a national inquiry.

Neil O’Brien MP, Shadow Education Minister, said:

“The victims of the child rape gangs deserve justice. So many have never had their voices heard.

“At present the government is blocking a full national inquiry. This cannot stand, so the Conservatives have tabled an amendment to their Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to call for an inquiry.

“Labour MPs now have a first chance to vote to give victims answers and justice, and pass an amendment that will make clear that the will of Parliament is for a national inquiry. But if they fail to do so, the Conservatives will not back down, and will continue to amend the bill at every opportunity.

“Labour say local areas should hold their own inquiries. But they have had years to do that and have not. In many cases local officials were part of the cover up. So, without a national inquiry, many of the 40 or more places where this happened will never see justice. I hope Labour MPs will start to listen to their constituents and vote to do the right thing.”