In Parliament it can be hard to get political chicanery past the other 649 MPs, all experts in the art themselves. On social media, where the last election was played out, it’s much easier.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch sought to argue the scale of the child grooming scandal demands further investigation. But her method is cynical, seemingly seeking a prized retweet from Troll-in-Chief Elon Musk by proposing a wrecking amendment to call for a national inquiry on a bill which ministers argue will help protect vulnerable children.
With an eye on local election losses to Reform UK and grabbing the attention of Musk – maybe he’ll bung her a few quid too – Badenoch’s political opportunism was on full show on Wednesday. She used all six of her questions to Starmer at PMQs to discuss the grooming scandal, demanding a nationwide inquiry to “join the dots” on all the abuse.
The Government is determined to bat away calls for another inquiry, arguing it would take years and years and the focus now should be action.
“She met her recently acquired view that it’s a scandal having spent a lot of time on social media over Christmas – not once in eight years did she stand here and say what she’s just said,” Starmer told her.
Nonetheless, the attempt to amend the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to call for a national probe will become a headache for Labour MPs because the Tories will be able to point to their rejection of an inquiry into revolting crimes against children.
Badenoch’s tactics were made explicit when she referred to Labour MPs who represent constituencies where grooming gangs operated, asking: “How are they going to explain to their constituents that obeying his whip is more important than doing the right thing?”
Just as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle announced he would select the amendment which would have killed off the bill entirely, the Tories released a social media graphic depicting Starmer as a blocker to a national inquiry. Expect to see individual Labour MPs dealt the same treatment on Facebook and elsewhere in the next few weeks and forced to explain why a national inquiry isn’t necessary.
Labour MPs are already worried for their safety. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has been the subject of vicious threats.
“How much further does it go? Do people get attacked, or, even worse, killed? It’s quite a febrile atmosphere,” a Labour MP told The i Paper. Another said on Wednesday afternoon their inbox had filled up with emails asking why they were blocking a national inquiry.
In the Commons, Badenoch told Starmer he risks fuelling accusations of “a cover-up” by refusing to hold a national inquiry, noting the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which lasted for seven years and concluded in 2022, had not had a specific focus on grooming gangs.
“We don’t need to repeat the work that has already been done. Let’s look at new areas,” she said, a fresh inquiry could explore “if there was a racial and cultural motivation to some of these crimes”.
In one of his best Commons performances yet, Starmer said a new probe is not in the interest of victims and instead wants to prioritise implementing the recommendations of a previous report by Professor Alexis Jay. He urged Tory MPs to defy her “misleading leadership” and not back her amendment to the bill.
He also challenged her to tell MPs when she had raised the topic in the Commons in her eight years as an MP, including during her time as a children’s minister and women and equalities minister. Badenoch replied that he was being “very specific” because she would not have been able to raise the matter as a minister, but that she had spoken about it in speeches elsewhere. Her spokesman later said she had yet to meet any victims of the grooming scandal.
Kemi Badenoch can't win in Elon Musk's dystopian world
Read MoreBut Starmer also had to dig himself out of a hole of his own creation by clarifying his clumsy suggestion earlier this week that anyone calling for another inquiry was jumping on a “far-right bandwagon” because it inadvertently smeared the victims who have also been calling one. And there was confusion when his spokesman later declined to rule out a national inquiry, saying the government would always listen to the victims of the grooming gangs.
The Tories have set up an online petition to try to harvest public opinion on the issue, to heap more pressure on ministers to change their minds.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the country deserves a full and open national inquiry, adding he would vote for the Tory amendment. He also criticised Badenoch for inaction on the issue while serving as Women and Equality minister for two years.
“Insincere though it may be, I will vote for it, we will vote for it, but I beg those on the other side to think whether they believe their constituents need to know the truth about this great evil,” Farage said.
The last few days have been a test for Badenoch as leader of His Majesty’s official opposition. And in Parliament she was called out on her decision not to opt for serious opposition, but play party political games instead.
“Shame!” Chancellor Rachel Reeves shouted at her. Phillips was furious, gesturing wildly at the Tories opposite as Badenoch tried to lecture the government on safeguarding.
“Rishi Sunak would have behaved in a more statesmanlike way,” a Labour MP told The i Paper. “She hasn’t noticed yet that however hard she tries, she can’t out-Farage Farage.”
In Parliament Starmer was on firm ground showing up Badenoch’s politicking. Even some Tories were sheepish about her posturing. But in one of her best lines, which will no doubt be recycled in future, she urged Starmer to “be a leader, not a lawyer”. It was immediately picked up by Musk.
Away from Parliament, it takes time and energy to explain why you haven’t ordered a national inquiry. Labour MPs are going to have to explain it repeatedly and justify the decision. The jury is out but in the court of public opinion Badenoch may yet be the winner.
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