KEMI: INQUIRY INTO UK'S RAPE GANGS IS LONG OVERDUE

KEMI Badenoch has demanded a national inquiry into the "rape gangs scandal".

- By Katie Harris

The Tory leader joined Elon Musk in calling for an investigation after the Government chose not to lead a public inquiry into historical child sex abuse in Oldham.

Mrs Badenoch said yesterday: "The time is long overdue for a full national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal. Trials have taken place all over the country in recent years but no one in authority has joined the dots - 2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice." Tesla billionaire Mr Musk used his social media platform X to claim that "rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice" during PM Sir Keir's Starmer's earlier time as Director of Public Prosecutions.

The US tycoon also claimed that safeguarding minister Jess Phillips "deserves to be in prison" after she rejected calls from Oldham Council for a Home Office-led inquiry into child sexual exploitation in the town.

Mr Musk said: "Serious crimes such as rape require the Crown Prosecution Service's approval for the police to charge suspects. Who was the head of the CPS when rape gangs were allowed to exploit young girls without facing justice? Keir Starmer, 2008-2013.

"Who is the boss of Jess Phillips right now? Keir Starmer. The real reason she's refusing to investigate the rape gangs is that it would obviously lead to the blaming of Keir Starmer (head of the CPS at the time)." Ms Phillips told the authority it was "for Oldham Council alone to decide to commission an inquiry into child sexual exploitation locally, rather than for the Government to intervene".

But shadow home secretary Chris Philp and shadow safeguarding minister Alicia Kearns yesterday urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Ms Phillips to set up an immediate national inquiry.