Did MPs just vote against a grooming gangs inquiry?

MPs have rejected a call from the Conservatives for a national inquiry into grooming gangs after a fierce row between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.

The Tory leader put down an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill on Wednesday, demanding one be established.

It called for ministers "to develop new legislative proposals for children's wellbeing including establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focused on grooming gangs". However, it was defeated by 364 votes to 111.

Badenoch claimed ahead of the vote that the prime minister's refusal to support a national inquiry would fuel concerns about a "cover-up".

But Starmer accused Badenoch of "lies and misinformation and slinging of mud", saying the "wrecking amendment" would not do anything to help victims of child sexual abuse.

Labour MPs didn't support the amendment because if it had passed it would have derailed the implementation of the bill, which the government says contains key child protection legislation.

• Read more: Who are the key people in the grooming gangs row?

What are the Tories claiming?

The Conservatives have been pressing Labour on the issue of an inquiry into grooming gangs since the row erupted last week.

They argue the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that was published in 2022 focused too widely on the issue of child sexual exploitation and that there hasn't been an inquiry focused specifically on the issue of grooming gangs and the failure of authorities to tackle them.

At PMQs on Wednesday Badenoch pointed out that the 2022 inquiry led by professor Alexis Jay only mentioned Rotherham (the town where the first grooming gang was identified) once in its 468 pages.

She has argued the government does not know the "full extent" of the rape gangs and that Starmer does not want a new inquiry because it would put a spotlight on his time as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Speaking after the vote, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour MPs of having "turned a blind eye to justice for the victims" of grooming gangs.

What does Labour say?

Labour claims the recent furore over the child grooming gangs has made the issue too politicised and has moved away from protecting the victims of the scandal and preventing it from happening again.

They have accused the Tories and Reform of jumping on a bandwagon created by Elon Musk's regular posting about the issue - especially when they failed to implement proposed changes when in government themselves. Badenoch herself was made minister for children and families in 2019.

In a rebuttal to the media frenzy created by Musk and spread on X on Monday the PM said: "Spreading misinformation is not interested in the victims."

He said: "What I won’t tolerate is politicians jumping on the bandwagon simply to get attention when those politicians sat in government for 14 long years – tweeting, talking, but not doing anything about it – now so desperate for attention that they’re amplifying what the far right is saying."

Starmer has accused the Tories of trying to delay the reforms intended to increase protections for children. Amendments to legislation are usually made on their third reading in Parliament, to make an amendment on a second reading (which the child protection bill is) you effectively need to vote down the whole package. The last time a bill failed to be passed on second reading was in 1986.

If this had happened with the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, it would have meant it could not be debated again in this parliamentary session and would have delayed its passage by months if not years.

Starmer has insisted the bill needs to pass to protect children taken out of education to be home-schooled, highlighting the case of Sara Sharif, who was pulled out of school just months before she was brutally murdered by her father and stepmother.

He has also vigorously defended his time as head of the CPS saying he reopened cases that had been closed which led to people being jailed, including the "first prosecution for a grooming gang."

The PM also claimed he encouraged a change in view by authorities to take claims made by young people more seriously.

While the government has said its focus is on action, it has indicated it could be persuaded to hold a national inquiry if that is what victims want.

Downing Street said on Wednesday it was "open-minded" and its approach was "rooted in what victims want" for justice.

It comes after Home Office minister Jess Phillips told Sky News "nothing is off the table" when it comes to tackling the issue - and victims can have a national inquiry if they want one.

'No new inquiries needed'

Prof Jay, who has been a leading figure on the issue for more than a decade, has rejected Tory calls for a new inquiry.

As well as chairing the national inquiry, Prof Jay also led a local report into the grooming gangs in Rotherham which was published in 2014.

"We’ve had enough of inquiries, consultations and discussions," she said.

"We have set out what action is required and people should just get on with it. Locally and nationally" adding "I have heard very little in the last few days about the appalling and lifelong effects that child sexual abuse can have on people."

Prof Jay has been critical of the Conservatives for not implementing any of the recommendations made in her report during the period they were in power. Badenoch has pointed out that the Tories committed to 18 of the 20 proposals before they were voted out of power.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has previously said the government will implement the recommendations but has not said if they will do all 20.

The government has said a package of new laws enhancing protections for children is on its way.

Read more: What were the 'urgent' recommendations of the 2022 child sexual abuse inquiry?

What's actually in the children’s bill?

Preventing the sexual exploitation of children is not the main thrust of the bill and it is more focused on schooling and education.

It focuses on regulations around academy chains and school uniforms as well as tightening up some of the rules around child welfare.

A key provision is parents will no longer automatically be allowed to home-school their child if the child is subject to a child protection plan.