Labour has dropped plans for grooming gang inquiries, making the announcement on the final day before Parliament breaks up for Easter recess.
In January, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced £5million to fund five local inquiries into grooming abuse gangs, but today it has been updated to a “flexible” fund.
Instead of funding five locally-led inquiries, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said they would back “locally-led work on grooming gangs”.
Tory MP Robbie Moore said that the five local inquiries had “been kicked into the long grass.”
He added: “That is a complete and utter disgrace.”
GB News understands Parliament was given just 45 minutes’ notice before the Government made the update.
GB News understands Parliament was given just 45 minutes’ notice before the Government made the update
PARLIAMENT.TV
Katie Lam MP, who responded to the statement, told GB News: “Children across Britain have been sexually tortured by gangs of men.
“We must confront the reality of these crimes and how so many people in positions of power let them go on so long.
“Local inquiries are not good enough — they can’t compel witnesses, they can’t look at themes across the country, and they can’t address national issues like deportation.
“Now the Government is watering them down even further. We won’t let them get away with it.”
