London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demands the grooming gang inquiry fully examine ethnicity and religion, accusing Labour of delaying a crucial probe.
As reported by The Telegraph, Kemi Badenoch has urged Labour to ensure its grooming gangs inquiry examines the role ethnicity and religion played in the abuses.
What did Kemi Badenoch say about ethnicity in the grooming gangs inquiry?
The Tory leader on Monday presented her draft framework for the Government’s inquiry, developed in consultation with grooming gang survivors.Kemi Badenoch’s party outlined inquiry principles, calling for scrutiny of the religious, ethnic, and national backgrounds of those responsible.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to a national grooming gang inquiry after months of pressure from MPs and campaigners, including X owner Elon Musk.At a London press conference, Ms Badenoch said the grooming gang inquiry must “leave no stone unturned.”
She stated,
“It must investigate councils, the police and even the Government if necessary. It must be time-limited, and it must consider the role of ethnicity, religion and other cultural factors.”
The Tory leader added,
“Baroness (Louise) Casey’s own report admitted that many of these cases are committed by people of Asian and Pakistani ethnicities. Her own report said that those who downplay the ethnicity of perpetrators are continuing to let down society, local communities and the victims. We agree.”
Ms Badenoch said,
“As I said, I have spoken to many survivors. We are speaking on their behalf. Their lives and their families’ lives have been turned upside down, so separate to this inquiry, the Government must act now to ensure that they and their families are supported so they can heal.”
She criticised the inquiry’s handling, accusing officials of delaying progress and frustrating survivors with repeated setbacks.In a statement earlier, Mrs Badenoch said,
“This is about survivors and what they want. We must give a voice to the voiceless. They have told us what an inquiry must include in order to obtain justice. This is what the terms of reference set out.”
She continued,
“I urge the Government to do the right thing and act now to establish a national statutory inquiry that not only investigates state institutions that let the survivors down, but also any ethnic and religious links that caused these crimes.”
What did Chris Philp say about the grooming gang inquiry?
The shadow justice secretary Chris Philp said six months after the government approved the inquiry,
“essentially no progress has been made.”
He said terms of reference were drafted in consultation with survivors, their families, and advocates.Mr Philp stated,
“These rape gangs are the biggest child safeguarding scandal in our country’s history.”
Commenting on their inquiry plan, he added,
“It should specifically investigate the deliberate cover up of these crimes, perpetrated by the police and councils deliberately covered these things up. It should, as Kemi said, look at the ethnicity and the cultural background of the perpetrators.”
“There’s a lot of evidence showing the majority were of Pakistani descent and in some cases were deliberately targeting vulnerable young white girls. And it should also make sure it has the powers to compel witnesses to attend and force the production of documents,”
the shadow justice secretary continued.
What did the Home Office say about the grooming gang inquiry?
A Home Office spokesman said,
“The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable. We will do everything in our power to ensure these crimes never happen again.”
They stated,
“That’s why we committed to a full, statutory, independent inquiry to uncover the truth. It will be robust, rigorous and laser focused on grooming gangs, and its scope will not change. The inquiry will direct and oversee local investigations, with the power to compel witnesses and summon evidence. And it will explicitly examine the background, ethnicity and culture of offenders.”
The Home Office spokesperson added,
“Our draft terms of reference will set out a clear and rigorous framework for this investigation, and we have been working tirelessly to prepare the most robust possible approach, including consulting closely with a wide range of victims and survivors.”
What did grooming gang survivor Fiona Goddard say about the inquiry?
One former liaison panel member, Fiona Goddard, expressed support for the Tory proposals, citing a loss of faith in the government’s progress. She said,
“I have more confidence that the terms of reference released today by the Conservatives reflect the real thoughts and feelings of survivors.”
Ms Goddard added,
“They stay true to the original purpose of the inquiry and align with the approach proposed by Baroness Louise Casey, offering an honest, transparent, and meaningful framework for the investigation.”
What are the Tories’ plans for an independent grooming gang inquiry?
The inquiry’s draft terms call for examining whether grooming gang offenses were influenced by the perpetrators’ specific religious, ethnic, or national characteristics.If such evidence emerges, the inquiry,
“consider whether any failure to act or investigate suspected cases by state institutions was driven, in any way, by the religious, ethnic, national, family, or clan characteristics of suspects or victims.”
The Conservatives plan a government-independent inquiry with authority to gather evidence, question witnesses, and determine the facts.
What did Baroness Casey’s report reveal about grooming gang failures?
Grooming gangs are groups that target, befriend, and manipulate vulnerable children for prolonged sexual exploitation. The government launched its probe after Baroness Casey’s report, which revealed key failings in protecting children and addressing grooming gangs.
The report highlighted a systemic failure across authorities, marked by
“blindness, ignorance, prejudice, defensiveness,”
and a harmful tendency not to view exploited teenagers as children. Cases were often dropped from rape because victims aged 13-15 were seen as having “consented.”
Ms Casey’s report added that national data is incomplete, with ethnicity unrecorded for two-thirds of perpetrators. However, local police records show “disproportionate numbers” of suspects from Asian or Pakistani-heritage backgrounds.