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.

Lawmakers in Britain have voted down an amendment to set up a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal. The amendment was attached to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would have been killed had the vote passed.

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

Andy Burnham has backed calls for a national inquiry into grooming despite Sir Keir Starmer ’s refusal to launch one. The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester said he believed there was scope for a “limited national inquiry ” that draws on local reviews into historic child sexual exploitation.

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.

The amendment to Labour’s flagship Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill received 111 Ayes and 364 Noes, majority 253.