Kemi Badenoch makes major grooming gangs announcement as Labour slammed

Kemi Badenoch will set out a blueprint for a national probe into grooming gangs. The Tory leader will unveil terms of reference for a full statutory inquiry, drawn up with survivors and advocates, which she is urging the Government to adopt.

The investigation would be independent of Government and have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence. Mrs Badenoch said: “This is about survivors and what they want. We must give a voice to the voiceless. They have told us what an inquiry must include in order to obtain justice. This is what the terms of reference sets out.

“I urge the Government to do the right thing and act now to establish a national statutory inquiry that not only investigates state institutions who let the survivors down, but also any ethnic and religious links that caused these crimes.”

The inquiry would look at whether state institutions were part of a cover-up and look at the role of ethnicity and religion.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who will appear at a press conference alongside Mrs Badenoch on Monday, added: “This inquiry will have the powers, independence, and scope needed to uncover organised grooming networks and the institutional failures that let victims down. Nothing will be off limits.

“It is time to put survivors first and ensure this can never happen again. The truth is the Labour Government never wanted the inquiry into grooming gangs to begin with. They had to be dragged kicking and screaming into holding it. It is time for the Prime Minister to grow a backbone, deliver justice for every survivor, and hold every official who enabled these crimes to account.”

Sir Keir Starmer announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs in June following intense pressure from the Conservatives and Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK.

But the probe was plunged into chaos in October when a string of survivors quit their roles in protest at how it had been handled.

Grooming gang survivor Fiona Goddard, who was one of those to pull out, said: “I have lost faith in the ability of the Government to make meaningful progress. That is why I decided to step away from their survivors panel, as they were not genuinely listening. I have more confidence that the terms of reference released today by the Conservatives reflect the real thoughts and feelings of survivors.

“They stay true to the original purpose of the inquiry and align with the approach proposed by Baroness Louise Casey, offering a honest, transparent, and meaningful framework for the investigation. I urge the Government to adopt these terms of reference and begin making real progress on this critical issue.”

Marlon West, the father of a rape gang survivor, insisted that all political parties “should be able to work together to achieve positive outcomes in collaboration”.

He said: “Once in a lifetime, an inquiry comes along that could change how our Government protects British children. It is essential that this is done thoroughly and correctly. Kemi’s terms of reference adequately meet those requirements, and as a father of a survivor, I hope this is recognised. Not for political points, but for the safety of our children.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The exploitation of children by grooming gangs is an appalling scandal and this Labour Government is determined to deliver justice for victims and survivors of this vile criminality.

“This Labour Government accepted all the recommendations from Baroness Casey’s report and we are committed to a full, statutory, national inquiry to uncover the truth.

“It will be robust, rigorous and laser focussed on grooming gangs, and its scope will not change.

“The inquiry will direct and oversee local investigations, with the power to compel witnesses and summon evidence. And it will explicitly examine the background, ethnicity and culture of offenders.”