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Sexual abuse victims become Westminster's political football
Starmer and Badenoch claim to speak on behalf of the abused, yet both focus mainly on scoring points off each other
Screen grab of Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Picture date: Wednesday January 8, 2025

SEXUAL abuse victims became a Westminster football today as party leaders squabbled over whether to hold a national inquiry into the grooming scandal.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that the Tory push for an official probe was unnecessary and risked wrecking government legislation aimed at boosting child protection.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, with online backing from far-right tech billionaire Elon Musk, demanded a national inquiry into grooming gangs and persisted with Commons amendments to initiate one.

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