Labour and Plaid Cymru united to block an inquiry into grooming gangs in Wales last night, but voted through a key amendment that could still out the truth about the scandal.
The Conservative-backed motion called on the Welsh Government to ‘commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs’, but it was defeated by 34 votes to 13.
Five of Labour’s 30 Senedd members did not vote, including Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan and former First Minister Vaughan Gething.
Former Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies, who has been championing calls for an inquiry, also did not vote.
How the parties voted on a Wales-wide grooming gangs inquiry last night
GBN
It came after a Welsh woman called Emily Vaughan- (not her real name) who was trafficked aged 12 and raped over 1,000 times by gangs- launched a petition imploring the Senedd (Welsh Government) ‘to see how widespread the problem is in Wales’.
Labour argues Wales’ four police forces have said there is no clear evidence of grooming gangs operating in Wales, while highlighting its focus on implementing the recommendations of Professor Alexis Jay’s report into child sexual exploitation instead.
However, one key amendment that could still out the truth was voted through last night, and it could make Labour Senedd members very uncomfortable.
Members unanimously backed a Plaid Cymru amendment calling for the government to ‘consider commissioning a full independent inquiry in light of the evidence gathered by the audit.’
This means that policing of grooming gangs in Wales will be forensically studied and, if evidence of rape gangs comes to light, the Welsh government will consider an inquiry.
Commentators have highlighted how this would be an embarrassing U-turn for Labour after they asserted the Police have no evidence of widespread issues with rape gangs.
Commenting after the debate, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “Labour and Plaid Cymru had an opportunity to 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, yet they chose to ignore the plight of these brave victims, so it is disappointing that they voted against our motion tonight.
“The Welsh Conservatives will continue to push the Welsh Government on this issue to ensure that our children can be protected from predatory behaviour and to secure justice for victims of abuse.”
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.”
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WATCH: Senedd members’ fiery clash over grooming gangs that sparked ‘censorship’ row
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.”
Welsh elections are due in May 2026.
