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SOMERSET’s Liberal Democrat MPs have explained why they abstained in a vote for a national inquiry into grooming gangs which was eventually rejected in the Commons.
The West Somerset Free Press, Wellington Weekly News and the Midsomer Norton and Radstock Journal asked their Parliamentary representatives to explain why they cast no vote after a Tory bid to launch a new probe was described as a bid “to gain political points.”
The inquiry would have been an amendment attached to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would have been ”killed” had the vote been passed. MPs, therefore, voted it down by 364 votes to 111.
Rachel Gilmour, MP for Tiverton and Minehead, said: “Voting for the Conservatives’ amendment would not have secured a national inquiry for victims of child sexual abuse. That is because it was a Reasoned Amendment to the Second Reading of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill.
“Voting for a Reasoned Amendment would have only one result - it would have blocked the Children’s Wellbeing Bill from passing through Parliament. That Bill includes many important measures relating to child protection and safeguarding which we have long been calling for.
“So we did not support the Conservatives’ amendment which - rather than introduce an inquiry - would prevent the passage of important child safeguarding measures. That’s why I instead signed a Liberal Democrat motion that calls on the Government to implement the Jay inquiry amendments in full, with regular reports to Parliament on their progress.
“We also laid an amendment to the Bill at committee stage calling on the recommendations to be enacted in full. This is proper opposition, not cheap politicking. Our amendment would have sought to strengthen, not wreck the Bill, but it was not called.”
The BBC reported how the the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes measures aimed at protecting children and tougher rules around home-schooling, as well as changes to academies. Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was "shocking" Conservative MPs would try to block a bill aimed at helping vulnerable children by voting for the Tory amendment.
The Conservative shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, described Labour's vote against the amendment as "morally wrong" but Sir Starmer claimed a new probe would only delay actions Oldham abuse survivors wanted.
Anna Sabine, MP for Frome and East Somerset, whose constituency includes Midsomer Norton and Radstock, described the grooming gangs scandal as “deplorable” but stressed how victims need “to be at the forefront of any decisions made.”
She added: “The Conservative amendment to the Children, Wellbeing and Schools Bill was nothing more than a ploy to gain political points and would not have secured any further protection for children – in fact it was an amendment to wreck a Bill which can help protect thousands of children nationwide, now.
“The Lib Dems put forward our own amendment to implement the existing recommendations to support victims and protect vulnerable children, and we will continue to fight for real action.”
Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, said: “I supported the Children’s Wellbeing Bill which now sets up a Child Protection Agency to carry out inquiries into sexual abuse, grooming and any other areas which require attention.
"The new law will also make it a legal requirement that people report abuse. These were recommendations of the Jay Report on Child Abuse made in 2022 which, scandalously, were not implemented by the last government.
"The other motion in the debate was the Conservatives’ amendment - supported by Reform Party MPs - which talked about holding another national inquiry but would have killed the Bill and stopped these things becoming law.
"Of course, I am happy to support any further inquiries into child abuse and grooming gangs in addition to those already held, and I fully expect the new Child Protection Agency, which I supported, to carry these out.
"I couldn’t, in all conscience, have voted for the Conservative amendment to block the Bill and the urgent measures it contains, just for the sake of a symbolic gesture which wouldn't even have delivered the inquiry it talked about.
"Like Professor Jay, I did not support the Conservatives’ amendment to kill off the Bill and, like her, I instead supported the new safeguards being set in place by supporting the Bill rather than the alternative wrecking amendment.”
James Wright, Conservative campaigner and Exmoor farmer, claims local outrage is mounting due to the inquiry’s lack of support,
He said: “Grooming gangs have destroyed lives and shattered communities. While there have been inquiries before, the one proposed would have compelled testimonies and uncover the full truth about who failed to act. Rachel Gilmour’s failure to vote for the inquiry is a betrayal of who she was elected to represent. Her inaction sends a dangerous message, that accountability and justice are being sidelined in the name of political correctness.
“Campaigners insist that existing recommendations can still be implemented alongside this new, targeted investigation.”
Sir Ashley Fox (Conservative, Bridgwater) voted in favour of the amendment while Sadik Al-Hassan (Labour North Somerset) voted against it. The remaining Liberal Democrat MPs also abstained; Adam Dance (Yeovil), Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) and Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) and so did Dan Norris (Labour, North East Somerset and Hanham).