Keir Starmer has slammed Kemi Badenoch for demanding a national inquiry into child grooming gangs despite never mentioning it while she was a minister. The Conservative Party is planning on voting down Labour’s Children Wellbeing and Schools Bill this afternoon in favour of an amendment calling for a fresh probe.

Kemi Badenoch has not met any grooming or child sexual abuse victims as part of her campaign for a national inquiry into the scandal, her spokesman has said.

Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clashed during a fiery Prime Minister's Questions as the PM urged the Conservative leader to drop her call for a national inquiry on grooming gangs.

MPs will vote on Kemi Badenoch’s call for a national inquiry on grooming gangs after she warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to back it would fuel concerns about a “cover-up”. The Prime Minister hit out at the Tory leader over “lies and misinformation and slinging of mud” which did not help victims of child sexual abuse.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer he risks fuelling accusations of "a cover up" by refusing to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs. She also accused the PM of not wanting questions asked "of Labour politicians who may be complicit".

Lawmakers from the ruling Labour Party have slammed the opposition for attempting to kill the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill by tabling an amendment that would force the new inquiry, while blocking the bill at the same time.

Sir Keir Starmer told Kemi Badenoch to drop calls for a fresh inquiry as the leaders faced each other in the Commons.

Today, we look at the debate over a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal playing out in the House of Commons. The issue was voted on because of an amendment to a Labour bill that will introduce changes to the education system.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer clashed with opposition leader Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday (January 8) over the need for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs.