A Gwent MP defends against accusations regarding a Commons vote on grooming gangs, calling them misleading and politically motivated
Gwent: So, there’s been a bit of a ruckus over a recent vote in the House of Commons about grooming gangs. An MP from Gwent, Catherine Fookes, is really pushing back against what she calls “misleading” claims about the whole situation.
This week, MPs turned down a Conservative request for a national inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation linked to grooming gangs. Fookes said the Conservative move was just a political stunt that wouldn’t have helped anyone.
She pointed out that the legislation being discussed is crucial for protecting kids and only applies to England. Fookes was pretty clear: the amendment wouldn’t have created an inquiry but would have derailed a bill meant to support children and families.
She expressed her frustration, saying it was unfair to use such a serious issue as a political tool. It’s a tough topic, and she believes it shouldn’t be treated lightly.
After the vote, a Conservative councillor shared a photo of Fookes online, suggesting she didn’t support an inquiry into grooming gangs. This stirred up more controversy, with some local leaders expressing disappointment over the vote.
Fookes also mentioned that the government is already working on recommendations from a previous inquiry into child sexual abuse. She emphasized that there’s still a lot of work to be done to tackle these serious issues effectively.
In the end, the Conservative motion was rejected by a significant margin, with no Labour MPs supporting it. It’s clear this topic is going to keep stirring the pot in politics for a while.
