Government approach to grooming gang inquiries is shameful Sir Trevor Phillips
IndependentAPR 7
Labour Accused of Abandoning Local Grooming Gang Inquiries
Above: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper arrives at Downing Street for a Cabinet meeting on April 8, 2025. Image copyright: Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images
The Spin
Labour Party narrative
There has been a significant amount of political misinformation propagated by the Conservatives regarding the government’s approach to grooming gangs. Rather than watering down, Labour is increasing the action being taken to tackle these vile criminal actors and support the victims and their families. Labour will strengthen the law and increase police investigations to ensure that the perpetrators are put behind bars.
Conservative Party narrative
Labour’s decision is utterly shameful. The five local inquiries, which were already insufficient to deal with the issue of grooming gangs, are being effectively abandoned by Downing Street, and the current government cannot even bear the thought of parliamentary scrutiny, which is why Labour announced this just minutes before the Easter recess. To address the grooming gang scandal, the country needs a full national inquiry, which is what the Conservative Party will pursue.