Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has condemned Conservative efforts to introduce an amendment calling for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, accusing them of jeopardizing the progress of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. She described the move as “utterly sickening” and a political maneuver that would derail critical child safeguarding measures.
The Controversy
The proposed bill, under debate in Parliament, includes wide-ranging reforms to improve child safety, such as:
- Stricter regulations for home-schooling.
- Increased support for children in care.
- Enhanced school inspections.
- Reforms to academies and private education institutions.
The Conservative amendment seeks to establish a new statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, despite the seven-year Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) having concluded in 2022 under Prof. Alexis Jay.
Prof. Jay and the government have expressed a preference for implementing the recommendations of the previous inquiry rather than launching a new investigation.
“Victims want action, not another national inquiry,” Prof. Jay told the BBC.
Phillipson’s Response
Phillipson has argued that the amendment would effectively “kill the bill stone dead,” undermining vital protections for vulnerable children.
“This is the single biggest piece of children safeguarding legislation in a generation, and the Conservatives are trying to block it on the altar of political opportunism,” Phillipson said on BBC Radio 4.
She emphasized that the Labour government supports local inquiries into grooming gangs, prioritizing evidence-based actions over broad national investigations.
Calls for Justice
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick defended the amendment, highlighting the “sheer scale” of child exploitation cases across the UK. He claimed that the Jay Review only examined six towns, whereas at least 50 towns are suspected of being affected.
However, Phillipson rebuked Jenrick for his previous role in the Conservative government, accusing him of failing victims during his tenure as a Home Office minister.
“He should hang his head in shame,” she said.
Political Fallout
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also criticized the Conservative tactic, calling it “shocking.” Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats plan to propose their own amendment, urging full implementation of the Jay Review’s recommendations.
What Lies Ahead
While the Conservative amendment is unlikely to pass due to Labour’s significant majority, the debate highlights deep divisions over how best to address the long-standing issue of child exploitation while ensuring broader child safety measures are not compromised.