Labour chaos over grooming gangs probe as Cabinet minister says nationwide inquiry has been ‘dominated out’ after Commons vote – regardless of No10 and Jess Phillips saying they’re nonetheless ‘open-minded’

Labour’s stance on a national inquiry into grooming gangs was thrown into confusion today as a Cabinet minister said one had been ‘ruled out’.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested such a probe had been categorically rejected after a Commons bid to force the move was defeated last night.

However, Downing Street left the door open to an inquiry yesterday, insisting Keir Starmer was ‘open minded’ and would be guided by victims – even though he did not currently believe it was the right way forward. 

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has also made clear that ‘nothing is off the table’, saying she will ‘listen’ if a new victims’ panel backs another broad inquiry.

A Tory demand for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs was roundly seen off in the Commons last night, thanks to Labour’s huge majority. 

Kemi Badenoch‘s amendment was thrown out by 364 votes to 111. 

It came amid a furious political row over the issue, which has seen pressure piled on Sir Keir by opposition MPs and billionaire Elon Musk.

The PM has endured a barrage of attacks from the tech mogul after it was revealed the Government declined a request for a nationally led inquiry in Oldham.

The controversial businessman has used a slew of social media posts to fuel  demands for a new national inquiry.

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Lammy said: ‘We’ve had a national inquiry. I think he ruled that out at the Prime Minister’s [Questions] at the despatch box.’ 

But Ms Phillips said on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast: ‘Nothing is off the table. 

‘If victims come forward to me in this victims panel and they say, ‘actually, we think there needs to be a national inquiry into this’, I’ll listen.

‘I don’t need to wait for a national inquiry to tell me there are people who should have lost their jobs, people who should probably go to prison.’

The PM’s spokesman today denied he was wavering over an inquiry.

‘We will be guided by the victims, and what we’ve heard from the victims is that they don’t want to see another national inquiry,’ he said.

‘We’ve had a national inquiry, it… engaged 7,000 victims, and what victims are telling us is that they want to see action, and that’s where the Government is focused, and that’s why we’re not going ahead with another national inquiry.

‘But as the PM said on Monday, we will always listen to victims, we will always listen to local areas, we always listen to specific allegations or issues as they are put to us, and we will faithfully deal with them, but what we have heard loud and clear from victims is that they want to see action.’

Last night’s Commons vote was held on a Tory amendment to Labour’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

It called on the Government to establish a ‘national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focused on grooming gangs’.

But, due to Labour’s massive Commons majority, the amendment was defeated.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Lammy said that the Government had moved on the issue following the Jay inquiry.

He added: ‘There has been a debate prompted by Elon Musk, of course, this week.

‘And I think the Prime Minister was right earlier in the week to really call to mind the facts, the truth, and to call out those who are putting forward mistruths in this area

‘And to keep in mind, as we heard yesterday from the Prime Minister at the dispatch box and Prime Minister’s questions, to keep in mind at the forefront of our mind, the victims.

‘And I look forward to working with those in the Trump administration come January the 20th and beyond.’