MPs to vote on grooming gangs inquiry as Starmer hints at U-turn after fiery PMQs: Live

Labour’s Rotherham MP Sarah Champion became visibly emotional in a speech to MPs as she expressed “disgust” at remarks in the Commons by Reform MP Rupert Lowe.

Praising the children’s safety bill as addressing “a lot of the underlying problems that we have within our schools, education and indeed protection of children”, Ms Champion said: “I’ve got to say, I feel disgusted by what the honourable gentleman has just said.

“Can you imagine if you are a victim or survivor listening to that? I’m sure his intent is to get to the truth and get justice, but the language – please think about who hears our words.”

In a lengthy tirade during which he refused to give way to other MPs, Mr Lowe had urged the government to deport foreign nationals found guilty of grooming crimes, and claimed that female family members who were aware of relatives’ crimes “are just as guilty as the rapists themselves”.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has called on Kemi Badenoch to retract her claim that a proposed definition of Islamophobia included “talking about sex groomers” as an example.

Zara Mohammed, secretary-general of the MCB, said: “Let me be absolutely clear – British Muslims unequivocally support the thorough investigation and prosecution of all child abusers, regardless of background. The MCB will support yet another investigation if proponents can explain why previous inquiries costing millions have not given them the answers they are looking for.

“Those who seek to weaponise this issue against Muslims have already received answers they didn’t want from previous inquiries. Yet they persist in pursuing a divisive agenda rather than focusing on protecting children through evidence-based approaches.

“What we will not accept is the cynical exploitation of child protection issues to demonise British Muslims. Mrs Badenoch’s comments represent a new low in the Conservative Party’s persistent refusal to tackle anti-Muslim prejudice within its ranks.

“The Opposition leader should retract her misleading claims and focus instead on supporting evidence-based approaches to protecting all children in our society.”

Nigel Farage has suggested Reform UK will fund an inquiry into child sexual abuse if the Government fails to do so.

The Reform UK leader said his party will raise the money and appoint “independent arbiters” to conduct the national inquiry.

As MPs debated the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Clacton MP told the Commons there is “overwhelming” support across the political spectrum for an inquiry.

He said:  “If the Government won’t do this – and I do believe there is now overwhelming support on all sides of the political spectrum for this, and Parliament should not be in denial about this – if it doesn’t, then we will raise the money at Reform UK and appoint independent arbiters, because we need the truth to be out there.”

SNP leader John Swinney has said he is concerned by the moderation changes at Facebook and Instagram, while signalling that he may reconsider the Scottish Government’s use of X, formerly Twitter, in future.

Meta has announced that Facebook and Instagram will move away from using third-party fact checkers to flag misleading content in favour of user-based notes similar to X.

Kemi Badenoch has refused to restore the whip to Sayeeda Warsi, despite her being cleared of wrongdoing over a tweet calling Rishi Sunak a coconut.

The former party chair resigned the Tory whip in the Lords in September when it emerged she was being investigated over the tweet.

The Independent has now learned that the disciplinary panel cleared Baroness Warsi of being “divisive” and “bringing the party into disrepute”. But despite this, the Tory chief whip has written to the peer, who was UK’s first Muslim cabinet member, saying she is not welcome back in the party.

Baroness Warsi said she was being targeted for warning of rising levels of Islamophobia in the party.

Our political editor David Maddox has the exclusive report:

The Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Labour has accused the Tories of using the child sexual abuse scandal to raise funds for the party, after it launched a campaign website and sent out emails to supporters asking them to sign a petition on the site which calls for a national inquiry into child grooming.

The party also includes a link for donations at the bottom of its email.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Kemi Badenoch has stooped to a new low, fundraising for the Conservative Party by playing politics with the safety of vulnerable children. This shows breath-taking disrespect to brave victims who are being used as a political football by the Conservatives.

“The Tories failed to implement the Jay recommendations to protect vulnerable children. Any money raised by the Conservatives must be donated to victims of child sexual abuse: this attempt to fill their party bank account off the back of such a sensitive subject is a disgrace.

“This Labour Government is taking action with landmark reforms to safeguarding and children’s social care. No more empty words or ‘lessons learned’, but real action to keep children safe.”

The political storm over calls for new inquiry on grooming gangs started after Elon Musk used his social media platform to launch a barrage of attacks at Sir Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips.

Mr Musk called for a national probe, while sharing wild and baseless claims about Labour ministers.

Ahead of vote on Tory leader Kem Badenoch’s amendment to the child safety Bill, calling for ministers start a statutory inquiry on grooming gangs, Mr Musk has shared a message on his social media platform.

He wrote: “Please call your member of parliament and tell them that the hundreds of thousands of little girls in Britain who were, and are still being systematically, horrifically gang-raped deserve some justice in this world. This is vitally important or it will just keep happening.”

Mr Musk has also been sharing clips of Reform UK MPs speaking at the debate which comes before the vote, set to take place at around 7pm.