Kemi Badenoch was accused of “weaponising” child sex abuse victims to score political points in prime minister’s questions today.
Labour backbencher Nadia Whittome told the Conservative leader she was a “disgrace” after Badenoch used all of her questions to Keir Starmer to press for another national inquiry into child grooming gangs.
The government has repeatedly refused to launch a fresh probe because it wants to focus on implementing the recommendations from the last inquiry published by Professor Alexis Jay in 2022.
Jay herself has said a fresh probe is not needed.
Labour has instead unveiled plans for a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries.
But Badenoch, who was the minister for women and equalities from 2022 and 2024, insisted the government should launch another national probe – despite not publicly promoting the cause when she was in government.
She said it was “about the protection for children” and “nothing is more important”.
When it was her turn to ask a question, Whittome stood up – and attacked Badenoch.
She said: “Mr Speaker, I wish that the leader of the opposition would stop weaponising victims of child sexual abuse for political points.
“It’s damaging victims, and if she cared about child victims, she wouldn’t be doing that.
“It’s a disgrace. You’re a disgrace.”
She also pointed to the high child poverty rates in her constituency, saying it was “a damning indictment of the previous Conservative government”.
Starmer slammed Badenoch’s points too, by noting that the Tories had 14 years in power – and they chose not to launch a new inquiry.
“They’ve got so much to say now. Why did they not implement a single recommendation in the 14 years they had in office?” the prime minister asked.
“She stayed silent throughout their years in government, so did the entire front bench,” he added.
#Kemi #Badenoch #Accused #Weaponising #Child #Sex #Abuse
Leave a Reply