Politics

A Tory bid to launch a new national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal has been voted down by MPs. MPs rejected the amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing Bill by 364 to 111. However, even had the Commons supported the measure, it wouldn’t have actually forced the government to open the desired inquiry, due to…

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Kemi Badenoch of “lies” as the Conservative leader called for a national inquiry into “rape gangs”. Ms Badenoch used the first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) of 2025 to continue to push the government to carry out a new national inquiry into the historical grooming gangs scandal, which she called the…

Jess Phillips has said “nothing is off the table” when dealing with the grooming gangs scandal – including a new national inquiry if victims want one. The safeguarding minister told Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast that she would listen to victims on a new panel that was announced by the…

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has accused the Conservatives of being “bandwagon jumpers” who “don’t care about children” as they try to force a national grooming gangs inquiry. The Tories have tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, being debated on Wednesday, to require a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs after safeguarding minister…

The grooming gangs scandal is back in the headlines after Elon Musk attacked Sir Keir Starmer and minister Jess Phillips for failing children. The tech billionaire has accused Sir Keir of being “complicit” in the failure of authorities to protect victims and prosecute abusers while the PM was director of public prosecutions from 2008-2013. Sir…

The Conservatives’ attempts to force MPs to vote for a statutory inquiry into child sex gangs would not lead to an inquiry, even if it’s supported in the Commons. As part of the ongoing debate on the topic, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said her party plans to table an amendment on Wednesday to the…

Rachel Reeves is on course to tighten Whitehall public service budgets further than expected in the spending review because of the worsening economic outlook, Sky News can reveal. This will pit the chancellor against some ministers who already claim she is sacrificing the manifesto promises they are expected to deliver – which will no longer…

Jess Phillips has said she has “more important things to be thinking about” than Elon Musk after he accused her of being a “rape genocide apologist”. The safeguarding minister has hit back at the billionaire’s criticism of her for the first time, telling Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast that his claims are “ridiculous” and she…

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, South African-born American resident and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is already within the fold of US politics and president-elect Trump’s upcoming government. Recently, more of his attention has turned to Europe, with Mr Musk sharing support for…

The government is considering reclassifying ketamine as a Class A substance after a record number of people reported using the drug. Ketamine is currently a Class B substance, meaning the maximum penalty for supplying or producing it is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Almost 300,000 people between the ages…