the conservatives will propose the inquiry in an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools billorrespondent, henry zeffman. henry, what are the chances of the tories being successful? zero, basically. and that's not me pretending to be clairvoyant, that is the mathematical reality of the fact that in our general election injuly last year, the labour party won a stonking great majority. that means in the house of commons, they can basically win any vote they like. and the conservatives know this. so what are they trying to do? it is not that they wouldn't like to win this vote, it is that they are trying to illustrate what is an increasingly stark difference of opinion between the labour government and the conservative opposition. that is over whether there should be a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, an issue which has rocketed up the political agenda at the start of this year, primarily thanks to the posts on social media of elon musk. now, the labour government position is that there does not need to be a new inquiry. what they actually need to do is to increment the

the move by the tories would have blocked the government's children's wellbeing and schools bill.other inquiry would delay action on tackling child sexual abuse. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas joins me now. indeed, earlier in the day, keir starmer had called on the conservatives to stop, in his words, mudslinging over this issue just tell us a little bit more about the debate that went on this evening, uk time. 0bviously on this evening, uk time. obviously the government was always going to win that because of its majority. because of its ma'ority. yes, it was, because of its ma'ority. yes, it was. and h because of its ma'ority. yes, it was, and it _ because of its ma'ority. yes, it was, and it is _ because of its majority. yes, it was, and it is worth - because of its majority. yes, it was, and it is worth saying j it was, and it is worth saying that even if the conservatives had succeeded in getting their amendment through and backed by mps, that would not actually have led to a national inquiry, it isjust a have led to a national inquiry, it is just a call for o

. >> what i find shocking is that anyone in this house would vote down the children's wellbeing bill he children's wellbeing bil|a his down the children's wellbeing bil|a new national inquiry into for a new national inquiry into the appalling behaviour of those rape gangs which went unchecked for years. >> that's right. the commons opposed a call by conservative leader kemi badenoch for a fresh probe into historical child sexual exploitation by 364 votes to 111. >> the ayes to the right were 111, the noes to the left 364. so the noes have it. the noes have it. unlock. >> so before the vote, the prime minister had this to say during prime minister's questions. >> what i find shocking is that anyone in this house would vote down the children's wellbeing bill this afternoon, which is vital protections for the most vulnerable in our society. and i urge the leader of the opposition to withdraw her wrecking amendment. >> well, honestly, let's get the latest from our and — >> well, honestly, let's get the latest from our and that's the national inquiry, and that's the one of the most blunt i

can the prime minister set out how today's vote on the children's wellbeing bill is a crucial step to delivering that promise to protecting children, and without the delay of an unnecessary, further lengthy inquiry? >> the prime minister can i thank him for his remarks about my brother and the other colleagues who have sent me remarks? mr speaker, he raises a very important issue. violence against women and girls. abuse. child sexual exploitation are sickening, and many victims have been let down for a very long time by warped ideas about community relations and the protection of institutions. mr speaken protection of institutions. mr speaker, he raises the question of inquiries. there have been a number of inquiries, both national and local, including one covering oldham, and reasonable people can agree or disagree on whether a further inquiry is necessary. this morning i met some of the victims and survivors of this scandal, and they were clear with me that they want action now, not the delay of a further inquiry. the jay inquiry, the last national inquiry, was seven years, which wo

indeed, conservative leader kemi badenoch has tabled an amendment to moray's children's wellbeing billo force a national inquiry into this consensus shattering phenomenon. and yet the amendment will almost certainly be defeated. so twice in just over a week, labour looks set to turn down an opportunity to do what is right for the victims and the country. as i said yesterday, labour is hiding behind the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse from 2022. but this is untenable. we know that roughly 50 towns were affected by grooming gangs. icsa covered only six. labour says that local inquiries are the answer, but the local ones do not have legal powers to summon witnesses to take evidence under oath or requisition evidence. local reviews can also be compromised by the councils themselves. charlie peters reported in the summer that whistleblower maggie oliver claimed the two leaders of the review resigned because they were prevented from accessing information they needed. at every turn. we've witnessed obfuscation, frustration and manipulation. now is the chance for labour to bring an

amendment being brought to the house, that this was a wrecking amendment that would ruin their children's wellbeing billr, they did gradually change their tune as the day went on, with both the safeguarding minister, jess phillips, saying that she was open to an inquiry if that's what survivors want, and the prime minister's spokesperson, echoing those calls after that vote last night. but this is the most dramatic intervention from a senior labour figure we've seen since this conversation started. with that breaking news from oldham last wednesday saying a limited national inquiry to compel people to give evidence to bring in the reviews we've already had in local areas. but i imagine also andy burnham is looking there at this as a national issue, considering some of those towns where there haven't been reviews. and martin, i should say this statement comes on the back of us speaking to survivors and campaigners in greater manchester all week, including martin west, that father of scarlett's, a girl who's been abused and exploited by these gangs for years. he told us that he wanted andy burnham and all

going to be talking particularly about this amendment that will be brought forward on the children's wellbeing billtomorrow in parliament. now, if it's selected by the speaker, this could be a huge moment in terms of which mp votes for or against this inquiry. >> yeah, and quite extraordinarily, labour have decided, it seems, to whip their mps. so essentially force all of their labour mps to vote against this even if they want to. and what does that really say? surely they could have given them a free vote. they've already said they don't want a pubuc already said they don't want a public inquiry. why would you have it there in black and white? >> it's very interesting. i would wonder, will there be any mps, any labour mps if this amendment is selected who break ranks with their leadership, who say, actually, no, this is too important. we need this inquiry. it'll be interesting to see not just who votes for that, le. breaking the labour whip, but also who stays at home, who doesn't vote, who are the abstentions in this vote? that might tell us more. >> well, we know that the blue labour group have

will not order that statutory national public inquiry, we will table an amendment to the children wellbeing bill later this week to put the matter to a vote, and ihope to put the matter to a vote, and i hope members across the house will vote for that full statutory public inquiry so we can get to the truth. home secretary james. >> zero, dear. we're just to say to the shadow home secretary , to the shadow home secretary, this is an issue in which when i was the shadow home secretary, when i was the chair of the home affairs select committee, i worked with government ministers on, and in which there has been cross—party consensus on the need to tackle these very serious and vile crimes. this is the most appalling crimes against children. the brutal rape, repeated multiple rapes of children, particularly young girls, but also young boys in the most appalling of circumstances and the abuse of trust for those children. often it be people who should have protected them, who should have looked after them, and where institutions failed to keep them safe. that is why the independent inquiry was so impo

inquiry is needed, what i find shocking is that anyone in this house would vote down the children's wellbeing billafternoon, which is vital protections for the most vulnerable in our society and i urge the leader of the opposition to withdraw her recking amendment. leader of the opposition. kemi badenoch. mr leader of the opposition. kemi badenoch-_ leader of the opposition. kemi badenoch. ~ ., , badenoch. mr speaker the house has heard that the _ badenoch. mr speaker the house has heard that the prime _ badenoch. mr speaker the house has heard that the prime minister - badenoch. mr speaker the house has heard that the prime minister lost - heard that the prime minister lost his brother during the christmas per—joked so can i offer him on behalf of my party our cons lens, the new year has started with a focus on the decades long rate gang scandal. across the country thousands of girls were tortured and sexually abused at the hands of men who treated them as things to be used and disposed of. destroying many lives forever. the prime minister has mentioned previous inquiry, he is right, there has be

ministers say the bill, the children's wellbeing and schools bill will help to protect children and rejecting make the argument that the conservatives have been utterly opportunistic as they see it in mounting the argument in the last few days. the contest as you'll remember is elon musk and the posts on his social media site which have been gratituous and insults and falsehoods amongst those. the prime minister today as he would see it was trying to re—rationalise the debate and take some of the heat out of it as well. so he acknowledged that it was perfectly reasonable for some to make an argument that this should be a public inquiry. it wasjust a view should be a public inquiry. it was just a view that he didn't share. the conservatives said that look, the pasifika project called for all sorts of inquiries in 0pposition, so why not have one in this instance? they argue that it could look like a cover—up. they said that thatis like a cover—up. they said that that is misinformation and that is lying, ultimately. the conservatives are trying to keep things going, so they've launched an online

different issue, which is the national inquiry into a bill that actually has cross—party support in a lot of other areas. >> so the children's and wellbeingschools bill looks at lifting educational but there is political risk, >> but there is political risk, isn't it? your former colleagues, lloyd russell—moyle if that happens, because the conservatives will be trying, will be saying, here's this mp at the next election as candidate in next election, who didn't vote for a national inquiry into the grooming scandal when given the opportunity. and that's, i think, the worry that is, of course, a political worry. >> i suspect what you will see is later on other amendments coming forward so that labour mps can say, well, this was a gimmick, but we did vote for the real thing when it came along down the line. that's what we've donein down the line. that's what we've done in the past. and because let's be honest, this is not going to fall. even if this passed, it wouldn't force a national inquiry. it would just send this bill packing and put political pressure on for a government to call it. seeing that keir today has said that he's not actuall

different issue, which is the national inquiry into a bill that actually has cross—party support in a lot of other areas. >> so the children's and wellbeingn schools bill looks at lifting educational standards, limiting the cost of school uniforms, stopping children being removed from from classrooms, stopping them being removed from classrooms and home schooling. >> exactly. that was a bill that the conservatives tried to introduce in the last parliament, but ran out of time. >> it's a kind of christmas tree bill, and they've attached a bauble on the edge of it, which i'll read out the wording here. and this is why it's so important. it calls upon the government to develop new legislative proposals for children's wellbeing, being at the same time as establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation focused on grooming gangs. and that is the point that actually does is it burns the christmas tree and just keeps the bauble. >> yes. so that's what this amendment does. and that's why i suspect it won't pass and you won't see many labour people voting for it, because rather than saying we want to add another

are expected to bnng conservatives are expected to bring forward an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill a full inquiry that's been read today. >> but downing street is set to whip labour mps into voting against it. that's despite the shadow home secretary, chris philp, calling labour's decision moral cowardice. >> well, we can now speak to our national reporter, charlie peters. let's go to charlie. charlie is out and about touring the country, as you know, in areas where there have been awful effects of these gangs. and today, charlie, it's rochdale and you're in rochdale and you're heading to rotherham. >> good morning eamonn and ellie. yeah that's right. we'll be speaking to more survivors and campaigners now in south yorkshire later today i will be speaking before i leave rochdale to another political counsellor around here, who will urge for the labour party to vote for this amendment today. he's now an independent councillor. he has said that it is urgent that a national investigation takes place into this national scandal. but we heard last night from jess phillips, who said that

. >> they voted down an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill proposed by the conservatives, which would have looked to force a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, which labour have refused. it was voted down by 364 votes to 111, with all labour mps voting against. shadow home secretary chris philp has responded in the last few minutes, saying it's important to find out the truth. >> national statutory public inquiry that covers not just some towns, as previous reports have done, but covers all the towns where this happened and has the legal powers to get evidence and make witnesses appean evidence and make witnesses appear. we need to get to the truth. victims are asking for that and i just don't understand why. keir starmer and the labour party are refusing to initiate this proper public inquiry. >> in other news, at least two people have been killed and 70,000 have been ordered to evacuate as three massive wildfires tear through the suburbs of los angeles in california. the fires, fuelled by dry weather and strong winds, are pushing dangerously close to homes, forcing

an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill proposed by the conservatives, which wouldave looked to force a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. shadow home secretary chris philp has responded, saying it's important to find out the truth. >> need a national statutory pubuc >> need a national statutory public inquiry that covers not just some towns, as previous reports have done, but covers all the towns where this happened and has the legal powers to get evidence and make witnesses appear. we need to get to the truth. victims are asking for that and i just don't understand why. keir starmer and the labour party are refusing to initiate this proper public inquiry. but in vote. >> in other news, firefighters in california are running out of water as they try to contain the worst wildfire in la's history. at least two people have been killed and 70,000 have been ordered to evacuate as three massive wildfires ravage around the city. the fires, fuelled by dry weather and strong winds, have destroyed 1000 structures and forced people to flee their homes, including some holl

. >> unlock mps voted down an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill proposed by the conservatives, which would have looked to force a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. shadow home secretary chris philp has responded, saying it's important to find out the truth. >> we need a national statutory pubuc >> we need a national statutory public inquiry that covers not just some towns, as previous reports have done, but covers all the towns where this happened and has the legal powers to get evidence and make witnesses appear. we need to get to the truth. victims are asking for that and i just don't understand why. keir starmer and the labour party are refusing to initiate this proper public inquiry. >> in other news, the mother of 14 year old kelly ann baker, who was stabbed to death on a bus in south—east london, has said he was groomed by gangs after running away from care and living on the streets. his mother, mary, says he was kind, musical and talented at drawing with a love of football. kelly ann was attacked on a double decker bus in woolwich just after 2:30 pm.

an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill proposed by the conservatives, which wouldave looked to force a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. shadow home secretary chris philp has responded, saying it's important to find out the truth. >> need a national statutory pubuc >> need a national statutory public inquiry that covers not just some towns, as previous reports have done, but covers all the towns where this happened and has the legal all the towns where this happened and haslookedjalforce which would have looked to force a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. shadow home secretary chris philp has responded, saying it's important to find out the truth. >> need a national statutory pubuc >> need a national statutory public inquiry that covers not just some towns, as previous reports have done, but covers all the towns where this happened and has the legal powers to get evidence and make witnesses appear. we need to get to the truth. victims are asking for that and i just don't understand why. keir starmer and the labour party are refusing to initiate this prope

the conservatives will propose the inquiry in an amendment to the children's wellbeing and schools bill get more on this now from our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. henry, what are the chances of the tories being successful? basically zero because the labour party has a massive commanding parliamentary majority. and that gives you a mathematical reality that they don't lose votes that they don't want to lose. and the conservatives know that when they proposed this. but nevertheless they want this to be an indication of how strongly they feel that there should be a new national inquiry specifically into grooming gangs. i know parliamentary procedure can be a bit tedious, but i do think we need tojust touch a bit tedious, but i do think we need to just touch on one element of it here, which is that the stage at which this legislation is, means that the conservative amendment, as well as amending the legislation, will actually have the effect of ending this legislation, which does all sorts of things, some of which the conservatives agree with, some of which they disagree wi

but this bill put down this amendment put down by kemi badenoch, the leader of the tory party, specifically says it calls upon the government to develop new proposals for children's wellbeingt the same time as establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation focused on grooming gangs. this is exactly what keir starmer has said will not happen, he has said moments ago on gb news from the pmqs session, just just finished in parliament that it would take seven years. there's no time, we've had enough inquiries, he says. they say that the baroness jay inquiry, reporting in 2022 with 20 recommendations, only four of which the labour government has said it will push through with. that was the inquiry. kevin badenoch said it was one of the worst scandals in recent history. you need to have an inquiry to remove the taint of other innocent muslim people in this country and that's why it's important to do it. she quoted jack straw saying that white girls were seen as easy meat by asian gangs by resisting it. she said that people will worry there's a cover up. all of this will be played out now in the house of commons. in a debate this afternoon. th