Starmer Faces Pressure as Second Labour MP Calls for Grooming Gangs Inquiry
Keir Starmer is urged to initiate a new inquiry into grooming gangs as Labour MPs voice their concerns
Grooming Gangs, Keir Starmer, Sarah Champion, Rotherham, UK
Rotherham: Keir Starmer is feeling the heat as two Labour MPs have now called for a fresh inquiry into grooming gangs. Sarah Champion, who’s been a strong advocate for women and girls, is leading the charge. She believes a national inquiry is essential to restore trust in our safeguarding systems.
Then there’s Paul Waugh from Rochdale, who’s on board but with some conditions. He’s worried about how this might affect the victims who’ve already shared their painful stories. It’s a tough situation, and both MPs are getting some unexpected support from Elon Musk, who chimed in on social media.
Starmer had previously told his MPs to vote against an inquiry, saying victims want action, not more investigations. But it turns out he and many senior ministers skipped the vote. This has raised eyebrows, especially after Dan Carden became the first Labour MP to openly support an inquiry.
Champion, who’s been fighting for child protection for over ten years, insists that child sexual abuse is a major issue in the UK and needs urgent attention. She’s seen the statistics and knows the public is concerned. She wants to understand the failures of public bodies to truly protect children.
Last week, she urged her colleagues to focus on implementing recommendations from previous inquiries instead of starting another one. She’s worried that another inquiry could mean years of waiting for real change.
Waugh echoed her sentiments, emphasizing that any inquiry must prioritize the victims and not interfere with ongoing police investigations. He wants to ensure that the victims don’t have to relive their trauma repeatedly.
Carden is also pushing Starmer to take action, highlighting the public’s compassion for the victims, particularly young working-class girls. He believes the call for justice is strong and should not be ignored.
Downing Street acknowledged Champion’s experience and said they would consider various opinions on the inquiry. They reiterated that their focus is on acting on recommendations from a 2022 report rather than launching a new investigation.