BASINGSTOKE'S MP Luke Murphy voted against establishing a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
A bid by the Conservatives to launch a new national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal was shot down by Labour MPs who voted against the amendment to the Children's Wellbeing Bill by 364 to 111 on January 8.
Among the 253 strong majority was Luke Murphy, MP for Basingstoke, who stood by the Labour party's decision.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer argued that several inquiries had been carried out already, detailing the abuse carried out by gangs of men against vulnerable children.
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Speaking in Parliament, he said: "There is a view and I share this view that what is needed now is action on what we already know.
"We already know that warped ideas, myths and stereotypes about victims are at the heart of this.
"What we need now is action."
Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said: "There have been over 1,400 victims across Oldham, Bradford, Bristol, Rochdale and dozens more towns.
"There have been thousands more victims but no one has joined the dots, no one has the total picture and it is almost certainly still going on.
"One victim from Telford said she wants a national inquiry because it will hold people accountable in a way that previous inquiries have not.
"It is very possible to have actions, take on more and still have a national inquiry."
The Prime Minister accused the leader of the opposition of jumping on the "bandwagon" after calls for a new inquiry picked up traction on social media.
It is said that the vote was largely symbolic, designed to put pressure on the government after Elon Musk made several comments on X criticising Keir Starmer and safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, after she rejected a new national inquiry into child sexual abuse in Oldham, arguing it should be done locally.
Labour says that MPs voted against adding a reasoned amendment to the bill which would have stopped the progress of the bill and by convention of parliament forced the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to restart it's process through the house, setting the government back on policy delivery which comes directly from its manifesto promises and one of its most crucial missions of breaking down barriers to opportunity.
An act of parliament to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs can still be introduced separately if a majority of parliamentarians support it and doing so would allow the passage of this billl.
The Gazette contacted Luke Murphy for a response and he said that voting for the inquiry would mean he votes against protecting vulnerable children.
He said: "Rape is a serious and sickening crime, and perpetrators should face the full force of the law. Last night’s vote was a clear choice: implement critical child protection measures or block them for political gain. Had I voted with Conservative and Reform MPs, I would not have been voting for a national inquiry but instead I would have been voting against the very recommendations that would protect vulnerable children, including measures to prevent abuse, track missing children, and strengthen safeguards in schools. Instead, I stood firmly for action that will make a difference in the lives of those most at risk.
"It is outrageous that certain politicians, with no real record of addressing child abuse, chose to exploit this issue for headlines and score political points. They ignored the landmark work of The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which has already made dozens of recommendations to tackle grooming gangs and protect children. Not only did the previous Conservative government fail abjectly to implement those recommendations, when those protections were on the table last night, they voted against them.
"Above all, this is about protecting victims, not playing politics. I understand the anger and frustration, especially when it comes to the horrific crimes committed by grooming gangs, but we cannot let that anger be manipulated. The new government is committed to immediate, practical changes—like strengthening the law on grooming and improving how we track child abuse. Those who tried to block this progress not only need to answer for it but should hang their heads in shame.”
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