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Keir Starmer and members of his Cabinet failed to vote on an amendment calling for the government to set up a national inquiry into grooming gangs, despite ordering his MPs to vote against it.
Sir Keir was one of nine cabinet ministers who failed to turn up to vote, including deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, chancellor Rachel Reeves and health secretary Wes Streeting.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband, foreign secretary David Lammy, defence secretary John Healey and environment secretary Steve Reed also did not vote.
While Downing Street insisted the prime minister had a “pre-existing diary commitment”, it is unusual for such a significant number of senior members of the government to miss an important vote.
When asked why they were all absent, the prime minister’s spokesperson said: “Whipping issues and votes are one for the whips office, but this government is completely focussed on passing this bill and it passed with a clear majority.”
It comes just one day after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch issued a warning to the prime minister over forcing his MPs to vote against an inquiry into “one of the worst scandals in British history”.
“Later today, he will tell Labour MPs, including those representing Telford, Rochdale, Bristol, Derby, Aylesbury, Oldham, Bradford, Peterborough, Coventry, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Ramsgate, to vote against a national inquiry into the gangs that have systematically gang-raped children in their constituencies.
“This is one of the worst scandals in British history. How will Labour Members explain to their constituents that obeying thep prime minister’s whip is more important than doing the right thing?”, Mrs Badenoch asked.
The Conservatives had tabled the motion to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill demanding a new national inquiry into gangs which, if approved, would have prevented the legislation from making progress.
But MPs voted to reject the motion by 364 votes to 111, a majority of 253.
The PM’s spokesperson insisted that the bill is the “single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation”.
The division list showed that supporters of the amendment included 101 Conservatives, five Reform UK, two DUP, the TUV’s Jim Allister, UUP MP Robin Swann and Independent Alex Easton, and no Labour MPs.
The Conservatives accused Labour MPs of having “turned a blind eye to justice” for victims of grooming gangs after the motion, which would have derailed a key piece of Government legislation, was rejected in the Commons.
The Bill later received a second reading without the need for a further formal vote, and will undergo further scrutiny at a later date.
“It is disgusting that Keir Starmer has used his supermajority in Parliament to block a national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal,” shadow home secretary Chris Philp said.
“Labour MPs have put their party ahead of getting to the truth and turned a blind eye to justice for the victims. Labour MPs will have to explain to the British people why they are against learning the truth behind the torture and rape of countless vulnerable girls.”
But the government has insisted that another national inquiry would delay justice for victims, with Sir Keir on Wednesday pointing out that recommendations from a seven-year probe which reported in 2022 had not yet been implemented.
“This morning, I met some of the victims and survivors of this scandal, and they were clear with me that they want action now, not the delay of a further inquiry,” he told the Commons.
The Tory leader hit back: “The Prime Minister called for nine inquiries in the last Parliament. Does he not see that by resisting this one, people will start to worry about a cover-up?”
On Thursday, Downing Street rejected the suggestion that the government is wavering on its rejection of another national inquiry, adding that ministers “will be guided by the victims and what we’ve heard from the victims is that they don’t want to see another national inquiry.”
It comes despite Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham breaking with Sir Keir Starmer to back a limited national inquiry into child grooming gangs, so that “those who may have charges to answer are held to account”.
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