Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been accused of stooping to a ‘new low’ by trying to get donations for her party by ‘playing politics with the safety of vulnerable children’
The Tories have been exposed for attempting to fundraise for the party through a petition calling for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been accused of stooping to a “new low” by trying to get donations for her party by “playing politics with the safety of vulnerable children”. Labour said the move shows “breathtaking disrespect” to victims, who it said are being used as a “political football” by the Conservatives.
Tory members received an email on Wednesday urging them to sign a petition calling for MPs to back an amendment to Labour’s children’s wellbeing bill. The amendment, which calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, would torpedo Labour’s legislation if voted for. At the bottom of the email is a link to “donate” to the party which takes people to a separate page giving them the option to set up a one-time donation or a recurring donation.
Likewise the petition is an opportunity for the Conservatives to get hold of people’s data. The party’s privacy policy admits it processes data with the intention of using it “for the broad purpose of our political, campaigning and fundraising activities”.
Keir Starmer earlier this week accused Ms Badenoch of jumping on the “bandwagon” of the far-right in suddenly calling for a new inquiry – despite her not doing anything about the situation while in power. It has since emerged that she has never actually met any survivors of grooming gangs – and she doesn’t think she needs to – despite saying her newly acquired passion for a new inquiry was in the name of victims.
The government has rejected calls for another national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, insisting that recommendations from previous inquiries must be implemented. The PM, who was previously director of public prosecutions and helped ensure many criminals were punished, said victims want “action” and not more inquiries. Home Office minister Jess Phillips has also explained that locally-led inquiries have seen more success so this is preferred over one led by central government.
A Labour spokesman said: “Kemi Badenoch has stooped to a new low, fundraising for the Conservative Party by playing politics with the safety of vulnerable children. This shows breathtaking disrespect to brave victims who are being used as a political football by the Conservatives.
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“The Tories failed to implement the Jay recommendations to protect vulnerable children. Any money raised by the Conservatives must be donated to victims of child sexual abuse: this attempt to fill their party bank account off the back of such a sensitive subject is a disgrace. This Labour government is taking action with landmark reforms to safeguarding and children’s social care. No more empty words or ‘lessons learned’, but real action to keep children safe.”
Reacting to the Tories’ wrecking amendment to today’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The question for the Conservatives today is why they are intent on blocking this landmark piece of child protection legislation that would keep the very children safe that they claim they are concerned about. They come along today as we set out legislation to protect the very children they claim to care about and they intend to block it and kill it stone dead. It is absolutely sickening.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “This is the latest desperate attempt by the Labour Party to distract from the simple fact that in refusing a national inquiry, they are denying the victims of child rape gangs the truth and justice they deserve. So long as the Labour government continue to resist calls for a national inquiry, their pathetic attempts to take a moral high ground will ring hollow. Labour should spend less time making a fuss about emails, and get on with delivering what this country deserves.”
