Sir Keir Starmer is facing a grassroots rebellion over his refusal to launch a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.
The Prime Minister has rejected calls for a statutory inquiry into the historical sexual abuse of thousands of children by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani heritage.
Blue Labour, a campaign group founded by Lord Glasman, is demanding a nationwide government-backed inquiry with full statutory powers.
On Thursday, Starmer denied that plans for up to five initial local inquiries had been scaled back.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a grassroots rebellion over his refusal to launch a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal
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This came after the Government said it would make money available for councils to tackle grooming, but they could use it as they wished.
The Blue Labour group argue that a more comprehensive national response is required to address the scandal.
The group said: "Blue Labour's position on the grooming and rape gangs is unchanged. This is a national evil that requires a national response.
"Local authorities lack the necessary capabilities and legal authority to carry out investigations, and often they are in need of investigation themselves.
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"We need a national inquiry with full statutory powers. The decades-long abuse of young girls and its cover-up is a sickness that must be exorcised from the body politic."
Lord Glasman told The Telegraph: "Our position is unchanged. We call for an immediate national inquiry with full powers of arrest. This is an evil that has got to be seen to be public."
Blue Labour is said to have a growing number of supporters on the Labour back benches.
These include Jonathan Hinder, MP for the Red Wall constituency of Pendle and Clitheroe in Lancashire.
GB News has found evidence of rape gangs in over 50 towns in Britain, with many of them Pakistani-heritageGB NewsDan Carden, a former ally of Jeremy Corbyn, is another supporter who broke ranks with Starmer in January to call for a full national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The same call for a national inquiry has been made by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has also demanded a full national inquiry into grooming gangs.
