PMQs: Starmer beats Badenoch on grooming gangs

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.

All politics is local: The final PMQs before the local elections had extra cut and thrust as both leaders rammed home their final arguments. Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a swipe at a top Tory appearing to be on leadership maneuvers as he congratulated London Marathon participants — including Conservative frontbencher Robert Jenrick, “who I’m reliably informed is still running.” Cue chuckles from the Labour benches.

What they sparred about: The grooming gangs scandal, with Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch ducking the opportunity to go in on Labour splits over climate policy. As ever, the emotive subject of widespread child abuse over decades was reduced to political point-scoring, as both leaders accused the other of doing nothing. Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch probed the prime minster on if there had been a cover-up — and whether it should be exposed.

Action stations: “I oversaw the first grooming gang prosecution,” the PM responded as he leaned into his old gig as Britain’s chief prosecutor. Starmer flipped the question back on Badenoch, saying she “never raised this issue in the house in three years” when she was in government. Starmer said ministers would implement recommendations from an existing child sexual abuse inquiry, unlike the Tories.

Inquiry about inquiries: Badenoch wasn’t letting her party’s record be twisted, pointing to a grooming gangs taskforce set up under the last administration. The Tory leader said Starmer had promised five local inquiries into abuse — but only one location had actually been announced. “Will he now name where the other four inquiries will be?” Starmer, here’s a surprise, didn’t go there.

Nothing to see here: The Tory leader was unperturbed, claiming at least 50 towns “are affected by rape gangs” and pressed for a national inquiry. “Is he dragging his heels on this because he doesn’t want Labour cover-ups exposed?” The PM couldn’t disagree more, saying he “changed the entire approach to prosecutions” of abuse when he ran the CPS and was “lauded” by the-then Tory government as Badenoch “stayed silent.”

Another one? Badenoch insisted only a full national inquiry could deliver justice. “I strongly believe we should listen to victims, and we’ve been listening to victims on this side for decades,” Starmer shot back. The people at the heart of their exchange are unlikely to feel well-served by either side.

Trading game: Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey, buoyed by fellow Donald Trump-critic Mark Carney’s election victory in Canada, pressed Starmer on whether parliament would get a vote on a U.S. trade deal. “Yes or no?” The PM, sadly for hacks, continued to not make news, only reiterating that any deal would “go through the known procedures.” Expect plenty more scrutiny on this.

Helpful backbench intervention of the week: Labour’s Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson cheekily referenced “a coming together” between Reform UK and the Tories (hat-tip this POLITICO scoop), using that threat to urge a Labour vote. While Speaker Lindsay Hoyle wouldn’t let Starmer answer, the PM will have been pleased with the backbench backup.

Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Badenoch 6/10. Starmer 7/10. Local election fever had MPs at their most partisan and gladiatorial. But that atmosphere jarred with a problem as serious as child grooming. While Badenoch highlighted the weaknesses of local inquires, the PM could point to action on existing recommendations and his past legal record — just giving him the win.