Ministers have acknowledged the possibility of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after days of resisting the idea despite pressure from figures including technology billionaire Elon Musk.

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips’ decision to block a public inquiry into the Oldham grooming gangs seems, from the outside, to be almost inexplicable. Children were raped and abused by gangs of men while the authorities failed to protect them.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer he risks fuelling accusations of "a cover up" by refusing to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs. She also accused the PM of not wanting questions asked "of Labour politicians who may be complicit".

PMQs: Starmer and Badenoch clash on Grooming Gangs scandal

Sir Keir Starmer directly urged Kemi Badenoch to drop her call for a national inquiry on grooming gangs because it would mean derailing legislation aimed at bolstering the safety of children. At Prime Minister’s Questions Sir Keir said a further inquiry could delay action on tackling child sexual abuse,

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will today ramp up demands for a public probe into the child grooming scandal to end the "culture of cover ups" in British institutions.