Two Essex MPs have explained why they did not vote on a motion calling for another grooming gang inquiry. Politicians called for another probe into the issue after it shot to the top of the national agenda.
MPs voted to reject the motion by 364 votes to 111 with Essex MPs split between supporting and opposing the proposal. No vote was recorded for two MPs: James Cleverly (Braintree) and Marie Goldman (Chelmsford).
The motion, tabled by North West Essex MP Kemi Badenoch, called for ministers “to develop new legislative proposals for children’s wellbeing including establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focused on grooming gangs”. The Prime Minister accused her of jumping on the “bandwagon” after years of not raising the issue while in power.
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Ms Goldman (Lib. Dem.) said voting for the amendment would not have secured a national inquiry for victims of child sexual abuse. She said it was a ‘reasoned amendment’ to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill and therefore voting the amendment would have blocked the overall bill from passing through Parliament.
She said: “That Bill includes many important measures relating to child protection and safeguarding which we have long been calling for. So, we did not support the Conservatives’ amendment which – rather than introduce an inquiry – would prevent the passage of important child safeguarding measures.
“That’s why I have instead signed the Liberal Democrat motion that calls on the Government to implement the Jay inquiry amendments in full, with regular reports to Parliament on their progress. We have also laid an amendment to the Bill at committee stage calling on the recommendations to be enacted in full. This is proper opposition, not cheap politicking. Our amendments will seek to strengthen, not wreck the Bill.”
Sir Ed Davey with Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford Marie Goldman
(Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)
Ms Goldman called on the Government to implement the recommendations of the Jay inquiry “as a first priority” with clear timescales and reporting to Parliament. She added: “This includes creating a dedicated Child Protection Authority, strengthening the criminal justice response to these cases, and appointing a new Minister for Children.
“We welcome the decision by the Government to bring in a duty of mandatory sexual abuse reporting, which would require people working with children and in positions of trust to report allegations of child sexual abuse to the relevant authorities. We will continue to hold the Government to account on this.
“As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill passes through Parliament, Liberal Democrats will be using every opportunity we have to push for real action to tackle the child sexual abuse scandal. And we will keep up the pressure to make sure the government doesn’t drag its heels, so that the action needed to make our communities safe for girls and all children finally happens.”
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly (Cons.), the MP for Braintree, who was unable to vote due to a family commitment, said “A national inquiry into grooming gangs is essential, but so is the implementation of recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse”. Mr Cleverly said he met with the chair of the inquiry whilst Home Secretary as well as survivors of child sexual abuse and made the protection of women and girls a priority.
He added: “If a desire to drive change was the only currency needed in government this issue would have already been resolved. But, as new ministers are discovering, you also need time and political capital to get things done, both things that were in short supply in the last few months of the Conservative government.
“I’m proud of the fact that I put forward clauses in the Criminal Justice Bill to increase the protection of children from sexual abuse but I’m well aware that much more needs to be done.”
Mr Cleverly said he would have voted to support the amendment if he was present. A national inquiry would not prevent existing recommendations being implemented and a government in its first year with a huge majority should be more than capable of doing both, he continued.
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly
(Image: PA)
His statement continued: “I do not question Jess Philips’ commitment to the protection of women and girls it has been her mission since becoming an MP. The attacks on her are deeply unfair and inaccurate, my criticism of her and other Labour MPs is the lazy assumption that they have a monopoly on compassion for victims and a desire to change things. And Starmer’s blanket accusation that a desire for an inquiry is just a hobbyhorse for the “far right” is toxic.
“We also have to recognise that legislation, important though it is, can only do part of the job. An inquiry needs to look at a host of issues that fell outside of Prof Jay’s remit.
“We cannot pretend that there was no race/religious/cultural element to this widespread abuse. While this isn’t the only factor and child abuse is sadly more widespread than most people realise, ignoring the racial element helps no one. We have also seen many examples that indicate an unwillingness to properly investigate credible reports of sexual abuse because of fear about accusations of racism.
“We also need to look at the attitudes of people in authority towards the victims and their families because of their class and backgrounds. No victim deserves abuse, asks to be abused, and children cannot give consent, these facts do not change based on the wealth or social standing of the victim.
“A failure to grasp this issue will increase anger, resentment, and division. My party could and should have moved faster on this issue when in government. Starmer would be wise to learn from this, get off of his high horse, stop blaming others for his inaction, and use his huge majority to do something important.”