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 Conservatives have tabled an amendment proposing an inquiry into grooming gangs, but if the vote passes new laws protecting children will be delayed.

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.