‘What’s he afraid of?’ Kemi Badenoch torches Keir Starmer over rape gangs as pressure mounts for national probe

She criticised the lack of progress on Labour's January pledge to establish five local inquiries.

"As of today, it's four months in. Nothing has happened and you can't expect local councils to investigate themselves," Badenoch said.

"You can't compel witnesses, people on giving evidence under oath. We need a full national inquiry," she added.

Badenoch pointed out that even prominent Labour figures support a national investigation.

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"Even Labour politicians like Andy Burnham and Harriet Harman have said, let's have a national inquiry," she said.

She emphasised that victims themselves are calling for a comprehensive national approach.

"But do you know who really wants a national inquiry? The victims. And that's who I'm speaking for."

The government had promised £5m to fund five locally-led investigations into grooming gangs in January, but so far only one has been established in Oldham.

Tom Crowther, the barrister appointed to help develop the schemes, recently suggested the inquiries had stalled.

Giving evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Committee in early April, Crowther revealed he had asked a government official: "Do you still want me?"

The issue was raised again in Parliament on Monday when Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said she expected there to be more than five local inquiries.

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Badenoch repeatedly challenged Sir Keir Starmer on the lack of progress with the promised grooming gang inquiries.

The Conservative leader told the Commons that despite the Prime Minister's January commitment, he "cannot name a single place because nothing is happening".

She highlighted that only one inquiry has been established in Oldham.

Badenoch argued that local inquiries were insufficient as they "cannot force witnesses to appear" and "cannot force people to give evidence under oath".

The exchange came just one day before local elections across England.

Badenoch suggested the Prime Minister was "dragging his heels" on inquiries because he "doesn't want Labour cover-ups exposed".

She claimed the inquiries hadn't started because "local authorities don't want to investigate themselves".

Starmer responded by accusing Badenoch of "staying silent" on the issue during her time in government.

He defended his record, telling MPs: "I was the prosecutor who brought the first case. On the back of that I then changed the entire approach to prosecutions."

The Prime Minister insisted Labour were "implementing existing recommendations" and "providing for local inquiries".