Carlisle MP, Julie Minns, has said she makes ‘no apology’ for voting against a Conservative amendment calling for a fresh inquiry into child grooming gangs.
Ms Minns said that child sexual abuse is ‘too serious and important’ to be reduced to ‘cheap political points scoring’ which she accused the Conservatives of.
The Conservatives had tabled the motion to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill demanding a new national inquiry into gangs which, if approved, would have prevented the legislation from making progress.
But MPs, including Labour’s Julie Minns, Josh MacAlister and Markus Campbell-Savours voted to reject the motion by 364 votes to 111.
The Bill received a second reading without the need for a further formal vote and will undergo further scrutiny at a later date.
The Prime Minister hit out at the Tory leader earlier on Wednesday over “lies and misinformation and slinging of mud” which did not help victims of child sexual abuse.
The issue of grooming gangs has been debated on social media led by billionaire tycoon, Elon Musk.
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In a statement, Ms Minns said: “Child sexual abuse is too serious and important to be reduced to cheap political points scoring, which I am afraid to say is exactly what the Conservatives did in bringing a wrecking amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill this week.
“They had 14 years to get serious about this issue, they failed to do so, and failed again when presented with the opportunity to put that right in Parliament this week.
“I therefore make no apology for voting against their amendment, and for supporting our Government who are serious about halving violence towards women and girls and tackling child sexual abuse regardless of the perpetrator.”