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".

Victims want action today, the Prime Minister said, as the Tory leader repeated demands for a national inquiry into rape gangs

Key figures including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Elon Musk, owner of social media site X, have called for a full national public inquiry into UK grooming gangs. But others – including Professor Alexis Jay who led a landmark inquiry into child sexual abuse – say a new inquiry would cause delays.

The vote was largely symbolic - aimed at putting pressure on Labour after comments by Elon Musk brought grooming gangs back into the spotlight.

Kemi Badenoch has dramatically failed in her attempt to sabotage the government's child welfare legislation in a bid to get another national inquiry into grooming gangs - see hjow your MP voted

An amendment to hold a national inquiry into the grooming gangs was rejected by MPs in a vote in the House of Commons. MPs voted by 364 votes to 111, a majority of 253, against the amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill after the Tories tried to stall the legislation.

The Conservatives have tabled an amendment proposing an inquiry into grooming gangs, but if the vote passes new laws protecting children will be delayed.

The education secretary warned that supporting symbolic Tory calls for a grooming gangs inquiry will kill a children’s safety bill ‘stone dead’

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has launched a blistering attack on Conservative MPs, branding them "a shameless bunch of bandwagon jumpers" over their push for a new grooming gangs inquiry. Speaking to GB News,