Starmer insists inquiry isn’t being diluted – and thousands of historic cases have been reopenedpublished at 12:20 BST
Image source, PA Media
Next, Badenoch tells the Commons Starmer previously dismissed a national inquiry at the first PMQs of this year. And, she says, despite his words – survivors have quit the inquiry.
“[Labour] voted against the national inquiry three times, so the victims don’t believe them…
“Now, one of the victims has quit – contrary to what the prime minister has just said and what the Home Secretary wrote this morning – they believe that the inquiry will downplay the racial and religious motivations behind their abuse. Aren’t the victims right when they call it a cover up?”
Starmer says: “Let me reassure the victims and the House that the scope of the inquiry will not be diluted, and we don’t shy away from cultural or religious issues.”
He adds that he has commissioned Baroness Louise Casey to help with the inquiry.
Getting it right with survivors at the heart is the priority, the PM says, adding that 1,200 historic closed cases have been reopened by his government.
- As a reminder: Four abuse survivors this week resigned from the grooming gangs national inquiry panel. They said they were frustrated by how long it’s taken to appoint an impartial chairperson and accused the government of watering down its focus, but safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has denied a “cover-up” and said the government would appoint a chair who will “earn the trust” of survivors.
