Top Labour MP brands Tories ‘bandwagon jumpers’ as she lashes out at their calls for grooming gangs inquiry

She highlighted how the Conservative government had failed to act on recommendations from a previous inquiry completed in 2022.

"Some of the same people that are now coming out and saying what we need is another inquiry were ministers in that government, in the Home Office who did absolutely nothing to keep children safe," Phillipson said.

The Conservative push comes through an amendment tabled by Kemi Badenoch to the Children's Wellbeing & Schools Bill, with a vote expected this evening.

Labour, holding a massive majority in the House, is set to block the measure.

Sir Keir Starmer accused the Conservatives of "shocking" tactics by attaching the inquiry proposal to wider child protection legislation.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called Labour's opposition "total moral cowardice".

Phillipson emphasised that Labour is focused on implementing concrete measures to protect children rather than launching new investigations.

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"The measures that we're setting out today are directly relevant here, the legislation that we're setting out about how we protect children and keep them safe, it's the single biggest shift in child protection legislation in a generation," she told GB News.

She accused the Conservatives of potentially derailing crucial safeguarding measures.

"If they had their way, if what they've set out today were to happen, then all of the measures in this legislation to keep children safe would be stopped, stone dead and will be blocked," she said.

She added: "They did absolutely nothing, and some of the same people that are now coming out and saying what we need is another inquiry were ministers in that government who did absolutely nothing to keep children safe.

"They are a shameless bunch of bandwagon jumpers and we should take action to protect children. That is what I am doing."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, telling GB News: "The Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls has dedicated her career to tackling sexual violence and abuse and to being a voice for victims and survivors of the most terrible crimes, including child sexual abuse."

The Home Office has stated: "No child should ever suffer sexual abuse and exploitation, and it's paramount that we do more to protect vulnerable children.

"Which is why we're working at pace across Government to drive forward real action to implement the recommendations of the independent inquiry."