Kemi Badenoch will today launch her own “alternative rape gangs inquiry”, accusing Labour of dragging its feet and failing survivors of grooming gang abuse.
The Conservatives have published a full draft of terms of reference they say Labour should adopt – including explicit examination of the religion and ethnicity of grooming perpetrators.
Badenoch, speaking ahead of a party conference event, said the framework had been designed with victims and survivors, not imposed upon them.
“This is about survivors and what they want. We must give a voice to the voiceless,” she said. “They have told us what an inquiry must include in order to obtain justice.”
🔍 Tories accuse Labour of stalling national grooming inquiry
Labour’s long-awaited national grooming inquiry – announced six months ago – has yet to publish its terms of reference or name its chair. Survivors’ groups and campaigners say progress has been slow, confused and politically risk-averse.
Sir Keir Starmer only U-turned in favour of a statutory probe earlier this year, having previously dismissed calls for an inquiry as “jumping on the bandwagon of the far-right.”
Tensions escalated in October when two victims resigned from an official liaison panel, accusing the Government of trying to “silence” them and downplay the ethnic dimensions of abuse.
🧭 What Badenoch’s alternative inquiry would examine
The Conservative draft inquiry proposes:
Full investigation into whether grooming gang perpetrators shared identifiable religious, ethnic or national characteristics
Examination of whether state bodies – including police and councils – failed to act due to political sensitivities around race and religion
A fully independent, judge-led inquiry with the power to compel evidence and summon witnesses
National scope across England and Wales, looking at both historic and ongoing cases
Clear findings of fact, not advisory recommendations
A previous report by Baroness Casey found that a disproportionate number of offenders were Asian men, and that police forces avoided proper investigation for fear of being labelled racist.
🗣️ Survivors express support for Tory-led terms
Fiona Goddard – one of the survivors who quit Labour’s liaison panel – backed Badenoch’s approach.
“I have lost faith in the ability of the Government to make meaningful progress,” she said. “I have more confidence that the Conservative terms reflect the real thoughts and feelings of survivors.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also argued that ignoring the ethnic dynamics of grooming gangs would make the inquiry “fundamentally incomplete”.
⚖️ Labour fires back: ‘Tories had 14 years and did nothing’
Labour accused the Conservatives of hypocrisy, pointing out that grooming gang scandals escalated under successive Conservative governments.
A Labour spokesperson said:
“They had years to act, and time and time again they failed to do so.
This Labour Government accepted all of Baroness Casey’s recommendations and remains committed to a full statutory national inquiry.”
Labour insists its own inquiry will examine the ethnicity and culture of offenders – despite allegations to the contrary – and will have the power to direct local investigations nationwide.
Joe Connor is a UK-based reporter specialising in politics, public policy, and national affairs. He has previously contributed to publications including The London Economic (JOE Media Group) and Spotted News.
At The Daily Britain, he covers Westminster politics, elections, and breaking political developments, alongside in-depth analysis of policy decisions and their real-world impact.
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