Blitz Bureau
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a national public inquiry into the UK’s “rape gangs scandal”.
It comes after Home Office minister Jess Phillips rejected Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation – saying the council should lead it instead, according to BBC.
Her decision, taken in October, was reported by GB News on January 1 and then picked up by Elon Musk on his social media platform X, and several senior Tories.
Shadow Home Office minister Chris Philp told the BBC the time had come for a national inquiry, with powers to “compel witnesses to come forward”, to get “to the truth”.
A Labour spokesperson said: “The Home Office supports police investigations and independent inquiries to get truth and justice for victims.”
They said Labour had supported the 2022 national inquiry into child sexual abuse under Professor Alexis Jay, adding the government was “working at pace” to implement its recommendations.
