Labour politicians are preparing to block an inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal in crunch vote this evening, sources have confirmed.
The vote, which is calling on the ‘Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs’, was forced by the Welsh Conservatives who say there is clear evidence of abuse in Wales.
The Conservative’s calls are backed by a Welsh woman called Emily Vaughan- not her real name- who was trafficked aged 12 and raped over 1,000 times by gangs, amongst other unspeakable abuse.
Vaughan launched a petition imploring the Senedd (Welsh Government) ‘to see how widespread the problem is in Wales’ and to make sure such abuse never happened again.
Labour argues there is no clear evidence of grooming gangs operating in Wales and says it is prioritising implementing the recommendations of Professor Alexis Jay’s report into child sexual exploitation instead.
The party welcomed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's announcement that there will be locally backed inquiries across England, killing calls for a national inquiry. It means the possible inquiry in Wales is effectively the last chance for a national inquiry.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “There is clear and concerning evidence of the sexual exploitation of young girls by grooming gangs here in Wales, but what we don’t know is the full extent of the problem.
“We owe it to brave victims to leave no stone unturned in investigating this problem and bringing the evil perpetrators of such crimes to account.
“Politicians must put party politics aside, come together to support victims of abuse, and ensure that we do everything we can to prevent the appalling sexual exploitation suffered by victims across Wales.”
Sources have suggested Labour members, who hold 30 of 60 seats in the Welsh parliament, are preparing to vote down the motion, a move that’s certain to draw ire from some Welsh voters rocked by stories of terrible abuse.
Left-wing Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru, who have 12 Senedd members, are expected to vote with Labour.
Asked to comment on the imminent vote, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We will continue to do everything we can as a government to ensure young people in Wales are safe from the horrific crimes of exploitation and sexual abuse.
“We also welcome the UK Government’s announcement of a rapid audit of the current scale and nature of gang-based exploitation across the UK led by Baroness Louise Casey. We will be engaging fully with this review and are actively liaising with UK Government colleagues on this matter.
“Our focus remains on implementing the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommendations, and a ten-year strategy for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse is in development."
Commenting ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Social Justice, Altaf Hussain MS, said: “It’s abundantly clear that more needs to be done to end sexual violence and domestic abuse as well as putting a stop to misogyny and violence against women.
“We are all obligated under international law to tackle sexual violence and domestic abuse, and politicians must come together to support the boys and girls preyed upon by grooming gangs.
“Next week I look forward to opening our vitally important debate, calling on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.”
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Campaigner, Emily Vaughn, who has spoken and written about her experiences of being trafficked and exploited by gangs in Wales, said: “I was the victim of sexual exploitation by grooming gangs, and I know that this practice is more prevalent than the authorities acknowledged.
“I believe the Welsh Government should undertake an inquiry to see how widespread the problem is and to support victims in Wales.”
Leader of the Welsh Tories Darren Millar added: "We know from what has already been exposed in Swansea and elsewhere in the UK, that simply accepting the assurances of the police and local councils that grooming gangs are not operating in their areas is not good enough.
“Only a Wales-wide inquiry will be able to ensure that there is sufficient attention and focus being given to this issue, and that our children can be protected from predatory behaviour.
“That’s why the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Welsh Parliament debate next week, calling on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.”
It comes after bedlam erupted in the Senedd a few weeks ago after a fiery clash on grooming gangs led to a censorship row.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Darren Millar had pressed Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan on a possible inquiry before citing the appalling abuse of Emily Vaughan.
As he did so, speaker of the Senedd Elin Jones- who was elected for Plaid Cymru but adopts neutrality for her role- interrupted, saying Millar was being ‘overly descriptive’, ‘verging on not being respectful of the victim’ and asked him ‘tone down his rhetoric.’
Millar replied that ‘he was just stating facts’ but Jones interrupted again.
She said: “No, no, no you're not. No you're not. The use of language in this place needs to make sure that you are keeping well away from inflaming any kind of discrimination or inciting of any kind of discrimination.
“You were doing very well, Darren Millar, with your first two questions in avoiding that. You've become overly descriptive, and I need you to now reflect on that and just ask the question again, please.”
Millar then said Wales’ ‘needed to know there wasn’t another Rotherham or Rochdale on our doorstep’ but was interrupted a third time by Jones.
The enraged speaker said: "I ask you stick to your script now. You are not listening to my advice.
“If you do not ask your question in the next ten seconds, I'm going to ask you to sit down.
“I did not expect to have to do this to you in your first few weeks as leader of the Welsh Conservative Party in here.”
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The vote, which is calling on the ‘Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs’, was forced by the Welsh Conservatives who say there is clear evidence of abuse in Wales.
The Conservative’s calls are backed by a Welsh woman called Emily Vaughan- not her real name- who was trafficked aged 12 and raped over 1,000 times by gangs, amongst other unspeakable abuse.
Vaughan launched a petition imploring the Senedd (Welsh Government) ‘to see how widespread the problem is in Wales’ and to make sure such abuse never happened again.
Labour argues there is no clear evidence of grooming gangs operating in Wales and says it is prioritising implementing the recommendations of Professor Alexis Jay’s report into child sexual exploitation instead.
The party welcomed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's announcement that there will be locally backed inquiries across England, killing calls for a national inquiry. It means the possible inquiry in Wales is effectively the last chance for a national inquiry.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “There is clear and concerning evidence of the sexual exploitation of young girls by grooming gangs here in Wales, but what we don’t know is the full extent of the problem.
“We owe it to brave victims to leave no stone unturned in investigating this problem and bringing the evil perpetrators of such crimes to account.
“Politicians must put party politics aside, come together to support victims of abuse, and ensure that we do everything we can to prevent the appalling sexual exploitation suffered by victims across Wales.”
Sources have suggested Labour members, who hold 30 of 60 seats in the Welsh parliament, are preparing to vote down the motion, a move that’s certain to draw ire from some Welsh voters rocked by stories of terrible abuse.
Left-wing Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru, who have 12 Senedd members, are expected to vote with Labour.
Asked to comment on the imminent vote, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We will continue to do everything we can as a government to ensure young people in Wales are safe from the horrific crimes of exploitation and sexual abuse.
“We also welcome the UK Government’s announcement of a rapid audit of the current scale and nature of gang-based exploitation across the UK led by Baroness Louise Casey. We will be engaging fully with this review and are actively liaising with UK Government colleagues on this matter.
“Our focus remains on implementing the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse recommendations, and a ten-year strategy for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse is in development."
Commenting ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Secretary for Social Justice, Altaf Hussain MS, said: “It’s abundantly clear that more needs to be done to end sexual violence and domestic abuse as well as putting a stop to misogyny and violence against women.
“We are all obligated under international law to tackle sexual violence and domestic abuse, and politicians must come together to support the boys and girls preyed upon by grooming gangs.
“Next week I look forward to opening our vitally important debate, calling on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.”
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WATCH: Fiery exchange on grooming gangs that sparked 'censorship' row
Campaigner, Emily Vaughn, who has spoken and written about her experiences of being trafficked and exploited by gangs in Wales, said: “I was the victim of sexual exploitation by grooming gangs, and I know that this practice is more prevalent than the authorities acknowledged.
“I believe the Welsh Government should undertake an inquiry to see how widespread the problem is and to support victims in Wales.”
Leader of the Welsh Tories Darren Millar added: "We know from what has already been exposed in Swansea and elsewhere in the UK, that simply accepting the assurances of the police and local councils that grooming gangs are not operating in their areas is not good enough.
“Only a Wales-wide inquiry will be able to ensure that there is sufficient attention and focus being given to this issue, and that our children can be protected from predatory behaviour.
“That’s why the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Welsh Parliament debate next week, calling on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.”
It comes after bedlam erupted in the Senedd a few weeks ago after a fiery clash on grooming gangs led to a censorship row.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Darren Millar had pressed Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan on a possible inquiry before citing the appalling abuse of Emily Vaughan.
As he did so, speaker of the Senedd Elin Jones- who was elected for Plaid Cymru but adopts neutrality for her role- interrupted, saying Millar was being ‘overly descriptive’, ‘verging on not being respectful of the victim’ and asked him ‘tone down his rhetoric.’
Millar replied that ‘he was just stating facts’ but Jones interrupted again.
She said: “No, no, no you're not. No you're not. The use of language in this place needs to make sure that you are keeping well away from inflaming any kind of discrimination or inciting of any kind of discrimination.
“You were doing very well, Darren Millar, with your first two questions in avoiding that. You've become overly descriptive, and I need you to now reflect on that and just ask the question again, please.”
Millar then said Wales’ ‘needed to know there wasn’t another Rotherham or Rochdale on our doorstep’ but was interrupted a third time by Jones.
The enraged speaker said: "I ask you stick to your script now. You are not listening to my advice.
“If you do not ask your question in the next ten seconds, I'm going to ask you to sit down.
“I did not expect to have to do this to you in your first few weeks as leader of the Welsh Conservative Party in here.”
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