A Conservative attempt to launch a new inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal has been voted down by Labour MPs.
The Children’s Wellbeing Bill includes measures to protect vulnerable children, such as tougher rules and regulations of educational and care settings.
A new amendment put forward by the Conservatives called for ministers to establish an inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation. Had it been approved, it would have focused on grooming gangs in light of a national scandal that was exposed in 2013, after girls were groomed and sexually abused across a number of towns including Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford.
The proposal was rejected by 364 votes to 111 – a majority of 253, with no Labour MPs voting in favour of the inquiry. It was backed by all of Reform’s five MPs and 101 Tory MPs.
72 Lib Dem MPs abstained but said they plan to propose their own amendment calling for the recommendations to be enacted in full at a later stage.
(Image: Christopher Hilton / Geograph)
