UK ministers say there could be a national inquiry into gangs

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UK ministers have indicated they are open to a new national inquiry, days after opposing the idea despite pressure from figures including tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Defense Minister Jess Phillips told Sky News that “nothing is off the table” regarding child sexual abuse by gangs in several English towns and cities.

Phillips said she would first listen to victims on a new panel being set up by the government. “If the victims come to me on this victims’ panel and say, ‘We really think there should be a national inquiry into this,’ I will listen to them,” she added.

Her comments came after the issue was put on the parliamentary agenda by the Conservative Party before the motion was voted on.

The opposition party tabled the amendment to the controversial schools bill on Wednesday afternoon. It is chosen by the Speaker of the Commons to be included in the vote.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer He described it as a “disgusting amendment” as it would block the legislation if passed and prompt the Tories to withdraw it. Labor MPs will be whipped into voting against the amendment.

Although the government’s significant share means it has little chance of passing the House of Commons, the vote opens the way for opposition parties to launch new ads on social media.

Tory leader clip Kemi Badenoch During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, the call for questioning was marked by an X on the mask, with the words “well done”.

During the session, Starmer admitted in parliament that there was a legitimate difference of opinion on the need for a new inquiry.

“This is a really serious matter and we need to focus on the victims and the survivors,” he told MPs. “There is no consistent view from victims and survivors of a more national inquiry, there are mixed views.”

Starmer warned that setting up a new inquiry would cause further delay in dealing with an attack. “The last question took seven years,” he said. “This takes us to 2031.”

Downing Street later refused to give the government the chance to approve a national inquiry. “As the Prime Minister said in the House, reasonable people can agree or disagree on the merits of the national question. . . A clear message from victims and survivors. . . They want to see action and that is what the government is focused on delivering.

“The idea was open,” Starmer added of the request.

Phillips hit back after accusing her of rejecting calls from Oldham Council for a government inquiry into fostering groups in the town. She said it would be more appropriate if the local authority did one.

Ministers reiterated the seven-year national inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay 20. tips, None of this was implemented by the previous Tory government. This week Labor announced it was taking on a raft of recommendations, including making it a factor in increasing sentencing for child sexual abuse.

ADB said on Wednesday that “no one has joined the dots, no one has given the final picture” and that the scandal is “definitely still going on” because a national investigation into the gangs is needed.

She challenged Starmer on whether the “full extent of gang-rape activity” should be known and argued that opposition to new investigations would create a “cover-up frenzy” among voters.

Starmer hit back, accusing her of “disinformation and mudslinging” that doesn’t help victims.

The prime minister pointed out that despite the fact that BAD was the Minister of Children and Minister of Women and Equality, he had never spoken about gender groups in Parliament in his eight years as a member of Parliament.

Later, in an interview with journalists, the ADB spokesperson said that he had never spoken to a single survivor. He could not say that they never raised the issue of marriage in the government.