You can almost smell the panic. Every Left-wing activist and pundit is frantically trying to defend Labour’s refusal to hold a full national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.

MPs voted down the Tories' proposal to launch a fresh inquiry last night - but the issue is not likely to go away.

Key figures including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and Elon Musk, owner of social media site X, have called for a full national public inquiry into UK grooming gangs. But others – including Professor Alexis Jay who led a landmark inquiry into child sexual abuse – say a new inquiry would cause delays.

The amendment to Labour’s flagship Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill received 111 Ayes and 364 Noes, majority 253.

Labour MPs rejected a Tory demand for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs. The House of Commons opposed a call, fronted by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, for a fresh probe into historical child sexual exploitation.